Gone but Not Forgotten

When I was a nurse in the United States Air Force, I had to go to another base for training. This training required me to be away from my family for one month.

One weekend, when I came home to visit, my husband and my two sons decided to accompany me on my return so we could all spend the night together.

We decided to drive two cars.

My husband would have the older son in the car with him, and I would have the younger one, Michael. For some unknown reason, we had forgotten to leave extra food and water for our dog before loading up in the car.

Knowing this, Michael got out of my vehicle and proceeded toward the backyard to complete those chores. In the meantime, I saw my husband drive off. Hmm, Michael must have gotten in my husband’s car, I thought.

I drove off behind my husband, not realizing that Michael was still in our backyard at home. Twenty minutes down the freeway, I saw my husband’s car. However, there was only one other person’s head in his car —not two! At that instant, I realized that I had left my son at home! Michael was only ten years old.

I could barely even breathe when I envisioned him being home all alone. Quickly, I turned my vehicle around and sped toward home.

My husband followed. I think I reached our house in ten minutes, much less time than it should have taken me to return.

Michael was sitting on the front porch crying.

“Momma” he sobbed, “I was running behind the car, and you did not stop. I did not think you were coming back.” I embraced him, trying to comfort my hurting child. You know there is an enemy among us named Satan, and he wants us to believe that the heavenly Father has left us on this earth alone, never to return.

That is not the truth. So today, I encourage you to believe that God loves us! His promise to us is, “I go to prepare a place for you, [and] I will come back” (John 14:3, NIV). All heaven is waiting and preparing for the Son, Jesus Christ, to bring His children home!

Ann Hickman Smith