They say there is strength in numbers, and I suppose that is subconsciously why I don't typically let any of my children play outside by themselves.  I figure if there are more than one of them, someone can come and tell me who got hurt, which neighbour is being mean, who is stuck in a tree and so on.

I suppose, subconsciously, I also hope that one of them could tell me the colour and make of the vehicle that my other child was shoved into.....yes I am that paranoid.

And then it happened.  All 5 of my 'outside play-able' children had been outside while the wee one napped and I made a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup.  A perfectly blissful morning. The windows were open hoping to catch the last cool air from the previous night before the humidity took over.

Four of my children came inside simultaneously:  just getting a drink of water....need to go to the bathroom....we're just getting some paper and pens... One lone child continued drawing with chalk on our road.

And then, through those wonderfully open windows, I heard his voice:  "Are you out here playing all by yourself sweetie?"

My heart stopped.  I ran to the front door in time to see the man who I was sure was about to lure my precious 3rd born into his waiting slime mobile never to be seen again.

Except it wasn't a creepy guy. It was a local homeschool dad taking his kids for a bike ride.  At that moment as I stood, breathing again, in the open door, the other 4 children tripped back outside after having been in for mere seconds.  And I closed the door...sighed...said a prayer.

Thank You that she is safe.  Forgive me for being so fearful.  Help me to entrust my kids to You.

If he had called her by name, which he could have done, I likely would not have been so alarmed.  But the anonymity of "sweetie" set off the alarms in my head.  And the implication to me behind "are you out here all alone?" sank in my heart as condemnation: "doesn't your mommy love you and take care of you enough to play with you?"

The children all said hi to Mr. N and demonstrated their newest tricks to him: look how I can climb the tree, watch me bike so fast, do you see my chalk drawing..... I might have gone out to chat another day. Instead, I went back to my soup, heart beating once more. Planning the great big fence I could build around my children that would follow them throughout this messed up world.

And then I remember, they have that fence already.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; Thought war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident. Psalm 27:1-3