His Watchful Eye

I sit here this morning, grateful for Heavenly Father’s watchful eye.

Yesterday we had a couple strangers filter through our neighborhood. In the middle of the day. While I was gone and the kids were home alone.

I was on an errand with S and J was left home babysitting B & T. R was at his cousin’s house and I was going to be back within 1 ½ hours.

I got a call from J saying that some man was wandering around our yard. He described his appearance which I didn’t recognize. I immediately called my Angel Neighbor to check on the situation and headed home.

By the time I arrived home a short time later, the puzzle pieces were falling into place. This man, and a friend (or two), had already visited a few neighbors; asking them for money and at one point removing gas cans from a neighbors open garage. His story was he needed gas money.

R had been coming home with his cousin when they saw this man entering our backyard. The man asked if his parents were home and told R he needed money. The boys quickly went inside and told J who in turned called me. The police had been called out by another neighbor and they were able to arrest this man and his friend.

The police didn’t believe his story; saying the men were “Up to no good.”

R had to give an official report and even got to ride in the police car to go ID the man. Several of the neighbors, including myself, pressed charges for trespassing.

Maybe he was telling the truth. Maybe he really needed money for gas. But he didn’t need to look for it in my back yard, the neighbor’s garage or ask a 10 year old for money. It just isn’t a good idea. If I knew this man really needed help, and I was home, I could have called someone to help him. But what he was doing was wrong and I felt it jeopardized the safety of my children.

I am SO grateful nothing worse happened. I am SO grateful my children were safe and knew what to do. I am SO grateful for His Watchful Eye.