I am Convinced God Gives a Mother Radar (Part 2)

As I mentioned in Part 1 of this post, “Keeper at home” has a three-part meaning in Titus 2:5. The three Greek meanings are stayer at home, guard, and domestically inclined.

In the 1960′s there was a TV show called, “Lost in Space.”  As a little girl, I watched this rather silly program at times when I came home from school. On the show, there was a robot, which warned the people, who were lost in space, of approaching danger.

When danger approached, the robot would light up orange and say in its robotic voice, “Warning! Warning!” As a mother, I have felt like this robot on many occasions.  The warning light within me would go off with most TV shows and their commercials, many movies, the internet, some games, worldly music and some children’s library books.

Therefore, we were careful about the movies and TV programs our children watched.  We were careful about what our children saw on the computer, the games they played, the music they listened to, and we were careful about what books they read. We were also careful about who our children hung out with and where they went. We knew what was going on with our children. God kept me alert to danger. Sometimes, we can even feel persecuted, or at least ostracized by others, because we are alert to danger they do not perceive.

When our children were growing up, we did not think it wise for them to minister to rebellious peers. My radar warned against ministering to the same age group because of negative peer pressure.  There is a Bible principle I knew to be true: The negative will bring down the positive. Bad company corrupts. Instead, our son and daughters had a ministry with younger children.  The younger children looked up to our children which encouraged our children to be good examples.

Our son and daughters ministered to the younger children at church. Parents, who did not go to church, allowed their children to ride the bus to our church. For Sunday School, our son and daughters team-taught 3rd and 4th

grade children.  They taught Bible clubs for the neighborhood children and for the children in day Cares. They taught character and Biblical principles to younger children in the public schools.

Our son and daughters went on mission trips to teach children the Bible in areas of the US and other countries. I can remember them ministering to little children in some unsafe areas. Because we knew they were in God’s will, there was no safer place. Whatever holds our attention, determines our actions:  spirit of fear or center of God’s will.

Even with gang members watching them teach the Bible, they were safe by being in the center of God’s will.  Once, some gang members helped our children set up their Bible clubs. Later that day, some of those gang members were gloriously saved. As Christians we must exercise caution, but we should not be afraid of seemingly dangerous situations, when we can have the peace of God, knowing we are doing His will.  If we had been led by a spirit of fear, our children would not have experienced God. They experienced God as they saw Him work through them, in the lives of gang members and in the salvation of souls.

Melinda, our youngest daughter, who is now married, still has an impact on the

lives of children.  She teaches them piano in her home, but also ministers to them encouraging them to walk with the Lord and to make wise choices in life.

Many years ago, our neighbor had a little boy, whom we taught about Jesus. Praise the Lord, the day came when we had the privilege to lead him to faith in Jesus Christ.

Now, I want to tell you about one of the times when I was grateful for my God-given “radar.” One evening, our daughter was babysitting our neighbor’s little boy. That night, I felt my radar signaling “Danger,” and I was stirred in my Spirit.  “Warning, Warning, Warning!”

My husband respected my built-in radar. After I talked with Barry, I walked to the house where our daughter was babysitting. I very casually suggested that both our daughter and the little boy come to our house to play. Once we were all at our house, I felt peace within, and we had a great time playing with the little boy in our home.

Later that night, his mother arrived and told me something that was extremely alarming to me.

She said, “I was so upset at my Dad. He had to leave the party early and come home, because he drank too much.”

I shudder to think about that! If I had not heeded the warning of the Holy Spirit to retrieve our daughter to come to our house to babysit, our daughter would have been confronted with a drunk man. I thanked God for keeping me alert.

I didn’t understand at the time why God had prompted me to go retrieve our daughter and let her babysit in our home instead. I am so thankful the Lord warned me and prompted me to take action. Though I did not understand “why” I was being prompted to take that action, God knew. God is so good. “Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man.” Psalm 31:20

All Moms need to tap into the Source and ask the Lord to give wisdom and “eyes to see danger” when it comes to their children.  I am not speaking about paranoia. We should not see evil behind every bush.

Our children’s playground was the many acres of woods (city woods) directly behind our house. I had a peace about our children playing in the woods and I prayed for their safety. God protected them. Our children had so much fun and many fond memories in those woods building tree houses, carving out trails, riding their 4-wheeler, swinging from a rope across the stream and just pure, innocent kid-enjoyment.

Another mother said she was scared that something would happen to her children in the woods, so she would not allow her children to play there. I believe we should exercise caution, but I don’t believe in living our lives in fear, and stifling our children because of paralyzing fear of what “might happen.”

Instead, we should live our lives in peace, after praying for wisdom and for protection… Just be attentive to the Holy Spirit’s prompting….  “Warning Warning!” He will lead you to the protection of being in the center of His will…then His peace will follow.

“How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.” Psalm 36:7

Dear Mother, Have you experienced God-given “Radar?” Please share your experience.