Redeem always is a weird word for me. I always think of coupons, cash, giftcards, etc. But, when I think of redeem and Christianity, I know it means deliverance from sin and freedom from captivity… but I like to think of it more of a “rescue” when I think of it in a Christian sense. We are rescued from our evil ways. Rescued from our sins. Rescued from our fears.

Today was a work day—no students; just staff– at work and as I sat and cleaned my classroom tables, wrote special education progress reports, wrote an IEP (Individualized Education Plan, for my non-special education folks reading), I kept having the word redeem tossed around in the back of my mind.

Then, at 10:59 AM my phone rang. It was my friend, and Kirby’s daycare provider. My stomach shot up to my throat. She always texts me, not a phone call. I answered and she quickly assured me that everything was ok, and Kirby was ok, but that I probably should get him into urgent care soon as he had split his chin when he fell outside.

Did you read my post last night? My biggest fear…. something happening to my kids.

She assured me I didn’t have to drop everything right then, but that I should start thinking about bringing him in. She sent me a few photos to ease my mind. Have I told you, that I love her and I trust her instinct 1,000%?!? Lunch that I organized had just been delivered to school, and my colleagues were coming down to eat lunch together since we can never do this during a typical school day.

My awesome colleagues told me stories of their kids and relatives who have needed stitches, and I was a bit calmer as I finished my lunch and headed out the door.

The minute I walked in the door at daycare, Kirby looked like he was going to burst into tears. He was really quiet and came with me out to the car. We drove to urgent care as I told him we just had to have it looked at to see if his skin could heal by itself or if it would need some help sticking together while his body fixed his skin.

We checked in and went back to our room. Kirby proceeded to describe to the nurse that his “chin felt like when you cut a fish open…” How he knew that, I am not sure, but what a great description!

The nurse switched us in to a room equipped for sutures. Kirby was a bit uneasy. When they said that he’d have to have stitches, they walked out of the room and the tears rolled down his cheeks as he said, “Mama, what are stitches? Is it going to hurt?” I sat down on the floor next to his chair, held his little hands in mine, described how his skin just needed a litttle bit of thread to help hold it in place while his body worked hard to fix itself (especially at night when he gets a good sleep!). He calmed down and we started what would become a 45 minute run of “I spy with my little eye…”

This mama was tiring of the game, as I am sure he kept switching the object when I would guess it. But, who was I to accuse this scared little boy of cheating? He just needed a distraction. He was giggling and telling me how bad I was at this game. At one point, after another loss, he looked at me, smiled, and said, “Mama, are you sure you are even a teacher? You are bad at this game!” (Bless his heart. He always tells Punky how smart Mom is because she is a teacher!)

The doctor came back in; prepped Kirby; put a tent over his face so he couldn’t see, and started the process. He was so brave. He never quivered or faulted as she was able to do 3 stitches (actually 4 – as one didn’t take) to seal up his 2 cm split.

When she finished and took the tent off of him, he sighed so loudly. He survived. He made it. He had no reason to be afraid anymore.

I rescued him from his fear as God was working through me by rescuing me from my own fear. What a process!

We are redeemed, not because of anything we’ve done, but because of everything God has done for us through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.

Today was so coincidental after last night’s post about my fear. God showed me redemption from my fears.

For that I am thankful. I will trust in Him and leave my heart open to His rescues throughout my life.

My photo today is this. I will pray that I may always have the look of trust and love in my eye when reaching out to God for another rescue. I will share the actual picture and the B&W copy of the photo. I was hoping to not lose that intense trust in his eyes when I made it black and white.