A Visit from the Sheriff

We stayed home from church this morning because the girl had a little fever. Mid-morning, my wife decided to walk down the road for a bit of exercise. I stayed in the back corner of the house reading while listening to the kids playing nicely in the front room.

After a few pages of reading, I hear the girl calling for her brother. I didn't think too much about it. Then she came in to the bedroom looking for him. I, too, started looking for him at that point. I looked in all the usual hangouts - behind the couch, in his sister's room, in the basement. On one of my trips in search of him, I happened by the large front window and looked outside to the road. I found it odd there were 2 cars stopped on the road, and people walking around.

It sunk in pretty quickly at that point.

I ran down to the road, and there was our Boy all safe in the arms of a nice lady. She said she was driving down our road, and noticed this little boy walking down the center of the road. (Yes - the center!) The other car that had stopped had the sheriff's office on the phone, and their call ended when I showed up. I thanked everybody for their very kind assistance, and took the Boy back up to the house.

Of course, a few minutes later after the shock had worn off, a sheriff's car rang the doorbell to follow up and make sure everything was alright. At that time, my wife walked up the drive from her walk with a very concerned look. I explained the Boy had followed after her.

I find quite a few things amazing about all of this:
1. He put on his shoes by himself to go outside.
2. He closed the door behind himself as we went outside.
3. He was safe.

I can imagine the surprise of the friendly driver who found this boy walking down the center of the road dressed in a bright yellow pajama top with a monkey imprint, red shorts, white crocs (sandals), and carrying his stuffed piggy that was wearing a diaper (the piggy wearing the diaper). At least he wore bright clothes, and the sun was shining brightly.

The sheriff understood our story, and simply said, "This happens."

I also think of other more spritual parallels to this story. Is my story not so different? Do I leave the safety of the Lord in search of things I should not, only to be shepherded back to His house once my sin is discovered?

All in all, the Boy is safe and I nearly had a heart attack.