Stumped

"And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule."

Daniel 4:26

There was this tree stump I want to tell you about but I must start with what brought our attention to it in the first place.

It was a warm summer afternoon, perfect for time spent at the t-ball fields. I had arrived as soon as I closed up business for the day and made my way to the ballpark to join my family to help cheer on our little 5 year old (Cameron) as he swung at balls and raced around the diamond as fast as his little legs would carry him.

As I arrived I spotted Pop and Gran in the stands and made my way to them, all the while scanning the perimeter for my family. I could always count on Dana's punctuality; being the coach and driver of one of the team players but for some reason on this day they were nowhere to be seen. In my mind I just thought he was running a little late and would be along shortly. As seconds turned into minutes and the team was taking the field I became concerned. The more the other coaches asked me where Dana could be (for he is never late) I began to pace; pushing down worried thoughts going through my mind.

In the end Gran and I jumped into my car and took off in the direction I knew they would be coming, as we headed toward home with a queasy notion in my stomach feeling that something just wasn't right. Me behind the wheel driving fast and furious and Gran in the passenger seat praying for Dana and the boys (or possibly our safe arrival being that the tires took on air in the curves and turns).

As we pulled up into our driveway of our Guntersville home Dana's little red truck was parked in the garage. As I opened the door I saw both boys sitting at the bar eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and Dana standing at the sink...pale as a ghost. After I gave hugs and hellos I was told the story of what took place here at home while I was away.

Dana had picked the boys up from daycare and traveled home to change into their uniforms. Afraid of running late he told the boys (4 & 5 years old at the time) to sit tight; don't get out of your seats, I'll be right back.

He ran into the house and was changing when he heard a car cross the gravel of our driveway thinking I had made it home early so that we could ride together, but no sooner than this thought crossed his mind he saw his little red truck pass the window headed down our steep driveway. He took off running meeting Cameron in the hallway breathlessly telling him, "Corey's in the truck!" As Dana made his way outside, barefoot and frantic the truck was out of sight.

You see, we lived in a cul-de-sac and the empty lot next to us was a tree filled bluff. As he made his way down the drive and across the circle to the edge of the road, there he could see that the truck was stopped dead in its tracks. He made his way down into the wooded abyss to find Corey in the driver's seat wide eyed and frightened to say the least, but unharmed.

Dana wondered what obstruction could have caused his truck to come to such a forceful halt so as the wrecker pulled the little truck up and out of it's landing spot he saw that it was a stump...of a tree. This stump caught the bumper of the truck as it was making it's backward dive down the cliff bank saving our little boy's life.

We know and believe to this day that God left that stump there after the tree had lived it's life and fallen, for such a time as this. We thank Him over and over for stepping in when we needed His intervention and for making beauty into what could have been ashes.

He saw fit to protect both of our boys that day because you see, Cameron had gotten out (thankfully stepping away from the truck) to say hello to a kitten that had wandered up and Corey climbing into the front to keep his daddy's seat warm knocked the truck out of gear.

We serve a God who surrounds us; intervenes for us; and goes to bat for us. God is ruler of our every moments; no detail gets by Him. We are forever grateful!

I love you & He loves you more!

Lord, I praise and rejoice in Your name! You are powerful and mighty and worthy of all glory! Thank You for saving us each and everyday in ways that we sometimes don't even realize. And thank You for tree stumps. Amen.