Taking the Fall

Several years back when my oldest granddaughter was 5 weeks old my daughter and her family came for a visit.  It was close to my birthday, the weather was great and I was so excited to have them in our home.  We had all types of things planned--the zoo, bar-b-ques, golfing, laughing, storytelling, all kinds of fun was in the works.  And so one day the guys--my husband, son-in-law, and both of my sons went golfing.  I remember how pretty it was that day.  Not too hot for the summer, no rain, very little humidity, a seemingly perfect day.

I don't remember exactly what my daughter and I had decided to do that day.  I don't know if we had gone shopping and were now home for the day or if we had just decided to stay home.  Anyway, she was in my kitchen, I think she was going to put something together for dinner.  I was holding my tiny little granddaughter and came walking into the kitchen when it happened.  As I walked into the little butler's pantry turned breakfast nook I stepped down--into the infant seat with my right foot.  Well, it slid out from under me, and we went flying.  I started to slide across the tile floor and instinctively wrapped my body around that baby.  My feet went one way, my head the other--and as I was falling, my head and then my back slammed against the door jam and down I went.  I rolled into a fetal position with my arms wrapped protectively around my little 5-week old baby granddaughter.  I could hear my daughter screaming--are you Ok?  Are you OK?  And all I could say was--take the baby, take the baby.

I knew that she was OK, I had protected her.  And I knew that I wasn't OK, but I didn't want my daughter to know that.  So I said--just let me lay here for a minute.  I laid there on my side with my head cupped in my hands in excruciating pain.  She wanted to call an ambulance, and she wanted to call her dad, but I kept saying--no, I'm OK, just give me a minute.  After several long minutes, I was able to sit up and get my bearings.  I assured her I was fine, but I think she had already called her dad.  I think I remember the guys coming home early to make sure that I was OK.  I never went to the doctor, but what I saw later that evening while getting ready for bed made me gasp out loud.  I was bruised in several places.  On the back of my right arm was a jet black bruise that went from right below my shoulder all the way to my elbow--a good 4 x 8 inches.  I looked on the lower left side of my back and there was another bruise about the size of a grapefruit.  I also had a huge knot on my head.  It took months for those bruises to finally disappear.

So what brought about this memory today?  I was thinking about God's protection and then remembered what happened that day just a few years ago and how He protected my granddaughter. She'll be 6 years old this month.  She's the spitting image of her mother--in looks and in personality.  She is an absolute joy--I love watching her little expressions and listening to her funny stories.  She is hilarious.

And my God--the God that I love and serve--protected her.  I am so thankful for that.  It brings tears to my eyes when I think of how much worse that day could have been.  And yet, because of His protection--she's just fine.  She'll never remember that day, she'll never remember her grandma taking the fall, and that's OK with me.  Just as long as she knows about Jesus--taking the fall for her--every day.