Coincidence Providence

There are some people who believe that life happens at random, that occurrences are left up to the universe and that karma deals you back what you've dealt out.

Some people believe in coincidences. Do you know that dictionary.com defines a coincidence as "a striking occurrence of two or more events at one time apparently by mere chance"?

Mere chance?

The idea that events just occur by mere chance with no forethought or planning by anyone or anything and that they just-so-happen by mere chance is possible I'd guess. But that's not the lens I choose to view life through. Nor do I believe it is truth.

Because if that were the case and it were just a coincidence, or mere chance, that my husband got home earlier than usual today...

When I accidentally turned on the wrong stovetop burner....

And instead of turning on the burner with the large pot for which I'd prepared to steam carrots for Ella's babyfood...

I, instead, turned on the burner with an empty glass dish I'd set on top...

Which proceeded to heat up then burst all over the kitchen...

Sending shards of glass the size of knives...

And others the size of splinters onto the furthest reaches of my small kitchen.

Melting anything within it's reach and causing me to have to trash my favorite pair of flip flops and our cheap rug that was by the kitchen sink.

And yet, my sweet Ashlee who was standing almost directly in front of the glass dish when it suddenly exploded remained unharmed, with not even a small scratch upon her sweet, pale skin. And I, barefoot in the kitchen, standing just inches further away than Ashlee, only received two small scratches on the top of my foot and a burn from hot glass on the bottom of each arch as I stepped forward to retrieve my screaming, fearful little girl.

No, for me, it's not coincidence that, not only, did Ashlee remain completely unharmed but that Luke was home early so that 4 of the other children who are normally by my side (and under my feet) begging to help or to taste, were playing safely outside with their Dad.

For me, that's providential, not coincidental. Because if I'm leaving the safety and protection of my children up to mere chance, I'd be willing to bet that more times than not, mere chance would fail me.

He never will.

Because if it were up to coincidence, I'd most likely be writing to you tonight from our local hospital, telling you about the shards of glass being removed from the skin of my kids and the burns being treated from where the glass had melted their skin, much like it did my linoleum floor.

However, I write this to you from the comfort of my couch, with the bodies of my unscathed children resting soundly in their beds. Sleeping the sleep that unharmed children sleep and without the tick of monitors or the pain of bandages and burns.

So rather than chalk this one up to coincidence, I'm going to mark this one down as something other than mere chance, and give glory to the One who knows of the protection we need, often before imminent danger ever even befalls us. Glory be to the one who is our faithful shield and buckler.

He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
~ Psalm 91:4

From a little boy to a man slightly older boy

Lucas has a slam good time at the beach. He's mentioned, on a daily basis, how he's ready to go back. He spent most of his time boogie boarding on ankle high waves and avoiding looking at the camera.



I bought some small dump trucks at the dollar store before we left and they proved to be a good investment. Lucas in particular loved running them through the sand and into the waves.



He "practiced" swimming in the shallow waters because he's just too upset that his eldest sister knows how to swim (in the pool) without floaties and he does not.



Several times over the course of the week I'd look at my oldest boy and marvel at how grown up he is. I know 4 years old isn't old, but for this Momma's heart it seems old. He still loves early morning cuddles and will usually give me hugs and kisses upon request. He still, unprompted, says, "I love you Momma" and it just melts my heart each time.



Yet I see glimpses of the young man he is growing to become. Eager to please his father and I, asking good (and tough) questions about God, loving his sisters despite their desires to only play the "girly" things and loving his littler siblings beyond what I thought possible for a little boy.



And then, just when I think he's getting so mature and growing so quickly, I see this in our attempt at a family photo....



And I realize that maybe he's not as grown up as I thought. But then again, neither is his Dad and he's technically considered an adult.