Today was home school Sunday School again at our house. Coach has a Thursday night game this week, thus a Sunday practice (yes, they do exist), so in lieu of trucking my three munchkins to church alone, I opted for my own life lesson from the KJV. I had a great idea to work with, and I have to admit, I found MORE material to choose from than I could incorporate into my adorable worksheet. So I narrowed it down and we got to work.

Our topic was fear, and we started out pretty basic. We talked about things that fourth and sixth graders, not necessarily them, but any fourth and sixth graders might find frightening. Their answers were good, and they were taking me seriously (I had thought about whipping out a copy of my teaching certificate for credentials, but it wasn't necessary). Tanner said going to the principal's office; Tucker suggested breaking a bone, along with some others. "All valid fears," I commended. We were rolling by then, so I got ready to hit them with the scriptures, when one of them turned it around on me and asked me what my greatest fear was. After I thought about it for a few minutes, I told them I had already realized my greatest fear and will testify to this day that without God, I would never have known how to face and overcome that fear.

All parents' worst fear is to see their child hurt or suffering, sometimes it is physical pain, other times it is emotional. My worst fear came with the news (from a not-so-sympathetic NP) that my water had definitely broken at 24 weeks and it didn't "look good." From there we spent 17 weeks with a most sympathetic, yet stubbornly tenacious NICU crew that transferred my hastily scribbled "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" verse from room to room, bed to bed. Never was Tanner without that rag-tag verse, thanks to some pretty special ladies. I still have that piece of paper with all the cards and prayers lists we were sent, and trust me, that is definitely something I'm grabbing in the event of a house fire.

I felt led to write about this as I prayed this morning for another baby T, little Tripp from Winder who was injured when a tree limb fell and struck him on the head. Right now, his mom and dad are facing their biggest fear, and I wish for them the peace that comes from that verse that traveled with Tanner for seventeen weeks, that now-torn, slightly faded promise that we held on to until we could hold him. Life is not fair, and we may never understand why things happen-- why babies get sick, why wind can be powerful enough to destroy, why moms and dads divorce, why jobs and homes are lost. Though we don't understand, we must constantly remind ourselves that no matter our fear, the depth or the weight of it, "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me."

If you are reading this, please stop and pray for this sweet little boy and his mom and dad. And for each person who comments, I will make a $1 donation (up to $50) to his family. And if you don't want to comment, please just pray for Tripp.