Kids need competent supervision, especially when they are little. OK, we get
that. So do child welfare authorities. Yes, there’s a funny story to go with
that. But it wasn’t so funny at the time.
I’ve mentioned in other posts (like
this one) that we are an adoptive family. That means we’ve been blessed
with children through adoption. It also means those blessed events were
preceded and surrounded by intense scrutiny of our personal lives and
confidential information. From biological backgrounds to bank statements and
from faith bases to fingerprinting, we’ve been scanned and scrutinized.
That makes this story all the more
cringe-worthy. Sure, it’s funny now.
Here’s what happened.
Our oldest was too
young for preschool. She was about two and a half years old. I set her up in
the childproofed and gated master bedroom and switched on an episode of the
dreaded purple dinosaur (who was all the rage at that time), so I could take a
quick shower.
Apparently, the phone rang while I was
shampooing.
When I stepped out of the shower, I peeked
at my kid, who was holding the telephone.
“Who is it?” I asked.
She handed me the phone.
“Well, I’m glad to hear there’s actually an
adult in the house,” a woman snapped through the line. Then she identified
herself as a caseworker from the Department of Child and Family Services
(DCFS), following up on the adoptive placement. (They did that periodically for
the first couple of years.)
The DCFS lady proceeded to tell me that my
daughter had answered the phone. When the caseworker asked to speak to a
parent, my kid had told her she was all alone.
“Who is watching you?” the lady had inquired.
“Barney the Dinosaur,” my child had
chirped.
I had to wonder what the lady had written
in our adoption case file about parental supervision in our family.
Not so with God. Our loving Heavenly Father
watches His children without even blinking. He never steps away, and He is always
paying attention. He is Elohay
Mikarov, the God Who is Near (see Jeremiah 23:23).
I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. (Genesis 28:15, NIV)
Almighty and attentive Holy One, we thank You that Your
eye is always on Your children (including those You have entrusted to us as
parents). Guide us as mothers and fathers, and guide our youngsters to walk in
the way You have planned for us – the way that leads to love and joy and peace
and more. Guide our children (and ourselves) to Your Kingdom, as You have
promised. We ask in faith and
in the name of our wonderful Lord, Your Son Jesus Christ.
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