Country Drive

Miranda and Miriam woke up Saturday morning to the sound of their mother’s voice.  “Wake up, kids.  Breakfast is ready!” she announced.  The spicy aroma of cinnamon traveled through the air.

“Mmmmmm, smells like Mom’s making something good!” said Miriam. 

The girls jumped out of bed and ran downstairs to the table.  Mom had made cinnamon rolls. 

“Good morning, girls” Dad smiled as he gave each of them a hug. 

As the family ate breakfast, they talked about the day ahead.  “It’s such a lovely day.  I thought we’d go to the park,” suggested Dad.  The girls both shouted with excitement. 

After breakfast, the family loaded up into the car and headed for the park.  Dad had decided to take the long route, down some winding roads that took them through some scenic countryside.  They rolled the windows down to enjoy the fresh country air.  Along the way, Mom pointed out a distant farm or a horse here and there.  Later, Dad showed them a cow that was standing alone on top of a mound of dirt.  The cow appeared to be looking right at them and posing.  The girls laughed at the sight of it, and mom snapped a picture.  Sights like these were not very common to the girls, who lived in the city.  They were used to seeing traffic lights and billboards and hearing sounds of horns and sirens.  The whole family always enjoyed these drives in the country.  As they came to a stop at the end of a long road, Miriam looked to her left and saw a small lamb by itself.

“Where is its mother?” asked Miriam, with concern.  “Why is it all alone?”

“He looks lost,” noticed Miranda.

“I’m sure it’s not really alone, girls.  Its mother is somewhere nearby,” assured Dad.

“Dad, please don’t drive off yet.  Let’s see if he finds his mother.”

  “Look, I see some more sheep over there,” Miriam exclaimed.

The family saw several sheep moving toward the little lamb, and one of the sheep put her face right up to the little lamb as if to make sure he was ok.  Then the lamb began to follow his mother along with the rest of the sheep further into the field.

“You see, girls?  His mother didn’t leave him.  She wasn’t far away, and I’m sure she was keeping an eye on him all the time.”

“Like you keep an eye on us,” Miranda said.

Mom smiled, “Yes, because we love you girls so much!” 

As the family approached the park, Dad began to slow down at a stop sign.  But when he applied the breaks, the car did not stop.  The family slid right through the intersection and finally came to a stop a few hundred yards later.

“Is everyone ok?” Dad shouted, looking back at his family.  Everyone was fine, and as they looked around, they saw another car driving away that must have gone through the intersection seconds after they had, barely avoiding an accident.

“There must have been a patch of oil back there,” mused Dad.  “Let’s say a prayer thanking God for protecting us,” he said as he reached around to hug his whole family.

After they prayed, Mom added, “You know, it’s just like that little lamb whose mother was watching over him and didn’t leave him.  And just like your dad and I watch over you girls and protect you.  God was watching over us too.  God protected us from an accident or injury back there.  God’s love is infinite, and He constantly watches over us.”