Unseen Hands

What favorite thing do you enjoy with your family? Mine is to enjoy tea with my two sisters, brother, Mum, and Dad around the kitchen table.

This is when we have the best conversations, laugh uncontrollably over something funny, listen avidly to stories of Mum and Dad’s childhood, and reminisce about the good old days. One day, Mum and I were enjoying our tea when the conversation turned to my childhood. My family was living in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, when I was born, and six months later, Dad accepted the call to study ministry, so we moved to Avondale College in Cooranbong, North New South Wales.

I was about nine months old when Mum placed me in a baby walker with wheels to encourage me to walk and keep me entertained while she went about the household duties. Our house wasn’t large —three bedrooms— and had wooden floors. The ground behind the house sloped, so there was a long staircase from the back door to the backyard. Mum said that she had to go down the back stairs to hang the laundry on the clothesline that was in the backyard. She thought I was in another part of the house, but unbeknownst to her, I was right behind her and made it to the landing of the stairs before the door shut. Mum had made it down the steps when she thought she heard a noise. As she turned to see what it was, she watched horrified as I started falling down the stairs in my baby walker. Mum said that the incident occurred in slow motion.

Somehow, I was thrown from the baby walker, and while the walker fell to the ground, she saw me being gently placed on a step halfway down the stairs.

While I did not sustain any injuries, I did cry out of shock.

Mum is certain that hands caught me midair, cradled me, and placed me safely, gently on the step. There is no other explanation except that God protected me that day with unseen hands. I always think of that story with awe, overwhelmed by the knowledge that God cares about me —that He protected me and saved my life at nine months.

What can I do to repay Him for His loving care? Honor Him, serve Him, and fulfill His purpose in my life!

Jenny Rivera