I got you?

“I lift my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from?”  Psalms 121:1 NIV

Many moons ago one of my favorite parenting moments happened.  Jordyn was about 3 or 4 years old and I had told her many times “I’ve got you”.  I said it any time she was scared or nervous.  When you are that little, a slide on a playground can look pretty imposing.  A simple “I’ve got you” reassured her. 

One evening the tornado sirens went off.  At the time there was a siren right across the street from our house, so it was loud enough to make you nervous.  Mary took her normal position in the front yard looking for danger.  I think most people who grew up in Kansas confuse the heightened state of awareness called “Tornado watch” with a spectator sport.  I was carrying Jordyn down the stairs, and I felt her hand patting me on the back and heard her saying “I’ve got you”.  She was reassuring me. 

Fast forward to our current situation.  Our granddaughter Harlee is just over 2 years old.  She has a big personality and does not lack confidence.  Aly always said she hoped her kids would be brave and want to try new things.  She got her wish.  Harlee is up for pretty much anything.  Right now, she even has a little cut on her nose and a bruise on her cheek from one brave attempt or another.  She is undeterred. 

Last week Mary and I took Harlee and Oliver to a playground.  It was the first time they had been to this particular park, so everything was new.  Harlee ran and played all over the park.  At one point I looked down to check my phone and she took advantage.  She ran straight for a hotel parking lot across from the playground.  Not my best moment of supervision, but fortunately she stopped. 

When we got back to the playground she was running and just playing.  She came to a set of steps that were challenging for her short little legs.  She wanted to jump but had some nerves.  I heard her ask “I got you?” which is what my wife has told her dozens of times.  She has heard it in a statement, but Harlee asked it as a question.  Mary just responded, “I got you”, a simple statement of reassurance.  Without hesitation, Harlee jumped. 

I have asked Jesus for reassurance a countless number of times.  Sometimes He responds, sometimes He waits, maybe to see what I will do.  Sometimes I move without hesitating, sometimes I freeze.  Harlee has had a couple of occasions when she has jumped and we were not ready.  You can look away and those little legs can trust what your eyes cannot see.  But at no time am I in any danger of Jesus not having me. 

What do you fear most about the jumps you face, failure or success?  I think either can cause us to freeze.

If you absolutely knew Jesus was saying “I’ve got you” what would you do?

Challenge:  Letting the cuts and bruises make us forget what if feels like to be a kid, ready to jump, because Jesus has got you.

Rick Claiborn