“I Keep You Safe”

I got to eat my lunch with a class of 2-year-olds last week. Colton and Adelyn were so excited I was having lunch at the table behind theirs, they kept coming over to me- with mouths and fists full of food- to try to climb in my lap and tell me their cherished tales of mommies picking them up and of toys at their homes. I repeatedly had to direct them back to their seats, saying (apparently something like), “I’m going to help keep you safe while you eat.”

Later most of the kids were cleaned up from their lunches and playing around the room. Kambree was up and playing, but her buddy McKenna was still eating. After a few failed attempts at enticing her pal to come play, Kambree tried to take McKenna’s hand.

McKenna stood up, took her friend’s hand in both of hers and smiled lovingly into her eyes.

Then McKenna patted the seat next to her as she said, “I keep you safe.”

Kambree visibly soaked up the loving energy like a sponge and sat down, still holding McKenna’s hands and gaze.

My warmed heart smiled to watch her imitation of me, and to see such a tender result.

But most of all, I breathed a prayer of relief and gratitude that I had held constant loving patience for Colton and Adelyn, rather than entertaining irritation. Then seeing myself imitated might not have been so heart-warming!