Your father loves you

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
 
As I'm writing this, my youngest child, Jude, and I are visiting my parents in North Carolina. Today, my father needed to visit a doctor and after his appointment, we took Jude (who is 4 years old) to a park to play. On the way back to my parents' home, Jude began to cry. I was surprised because nothing had been obviously bothering him. I asked Jude what was wrong.
 
"Why did God make officers? I don't like them," he replied, with big tears running down his face.
 
"Officers? Are you talking about police officers?" I questioned. I was a little confused. No one had been talking about police officers. This statement seemed to just come out of nowhere.
 
"Yes," Jude tearfully replied, his little bottom lip quivering. "Why did God make them? I'm afraid of them."
 
I hugged him tight. "Honey, police officers are just people like you and me. They help us. They try to take care of bad guys. You don't need to be afraid of them." Jude nodded, but was still clearly upset.
 
About 15 minutes later, my mother pulled the car into a gas station. Just as we did, a police car pulled up beside us also to get gas. The police officer got out and he just happened to be very friendly. As our windows were down, the officer called out, "Hey, I see you've got the whole family out." Then he leaned in closer and spoke directly to Jude, "Hi, buddy! How are you?"
 
Jude responded, "Hi. I'm good!" The smile on his face was big and I could see he was delighted.
 
I leaned over and whispered to Jude, "See! Officers are people just like you and me. You don't need to be afraid." Jude nodded again, very emphatically.
 
Thank you, Lord, for caring about the fears of my young son. I believe with all my heart that God sent a friendly police officer to a particular gas station at just the right time to show a little 4-year-old boy that he didn't need to be afraid.
 
May you rest today in the confidence that your heavenly Father cares for you. He sees every crease of your worried brow. He feels every weight on your mind. He keeps track of every tear you cry.
 
“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;  
 
written by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel, Civilla Durfee Martin

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