"Honey, People Love to Terrorize."

Thankfully, for us as parents, little F doesn't have too many undisturbed nights of sleep. In fact, we've only had one sleepless night (less than 12 hours) since she was about 6 weeks old. However, a couple nights ago, that record was broken. She had a hard time falling asleep, and at 1:30 she woke up crying. When it was clear she couldn't console herself, I went in to check on her. Nothing seemed wrong; although, I thought she might be hungry. I searched the house but couldn't find her bottle (yes, we only have one bottle that we use). Z was the last one to feed her with the bottle; so, although I didn't want to, I roused him. He told me that he left it in F's room right before she went down for bed. I told him I searched and found nothing. He searched and found nothing.

"Honey," I said with worry, "are you going to search the house?" He looked at me inquisitively. I tried again in earnest, "What if someone broke in?"
He laughed, "And took just a bottle?"
I couldn't have been more serious, "Honey, people love to terrorize."

Although, he had high doubts that no one had broken into our house, he searched the house top to bottom. Why I didn't make him carry his knife with him, I have no idea.

I haven't always worried so...not until I became a mother. Now, all those creepy CSI shows, freaky movies, and terrifying news reports haunt me. Every time I hear a creak from F's room I instantly recall an article I read about a 10-month-old who was kidnapped from her room during nap time. Or when I lie awake at night, scenes from a movie I watched in junior high flash through my mind: I re-watch that guy kidnap the kids from their room at night and then stalk the babysitter for years to come. Terrifying.

I've come to realize that I won't be watching many of those types of shows or movies for the rest of my life. Are they interesting? Sure. Are they beneficial for me? Maybe not so much. My fears are real fears. I can't control every thing that happens to my daughter. And, yes, unfortunately there are people out there who kidnap, murder, rape, and hurt people, leaving them scarred for life or dead. Yet, I know and serve God who lovingly cares and protects His people. 

When I was a little girl my parents taught me Psalm 17; and now, we're teaching it to our daughter. Every day we sing, "Keep me Lord as the apple of Your eye; hide me under the shadow of Your wing. Keep me Lord, lest I die; keep me Lord as the apple of Your eye." As God's people we are the apple of His eye; we are exceedingly precious to Him. He wants to protect us by keeping us in the shadow of His wing. So, instead of terrorizing myself, I need to constantly remember the promises of God.

Promises like:

Psalm 4:8
"In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."

Proverbs 18:10
"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; 
the righteous man runs into it and is safe."

Isaiah 41:10
"Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."