In 2013, when my grandson was born, his first day home, he began to experience some health issues. He gave us a fright. We prayed and we took him to the ER where the doctors were unable to diagnose a condition. He was admitted to the NICU for testing and treatment for what they suspected was a seizure disorder. At the end of the week, after days of testing, he was released without a diagnose’s. At the time, we were told that one of the medications they were prescribing is known to cause developmental delays, so he was going to need some careful monitoring his first year. As his grandmother I took responsibility for his care. They were already living with me, so everyday, for two years I was privileged to care for my grandson.
My little man was born blessed. His grandma happened to be a developmental specialist so I felt confident to take on the task of guiding his development.
Well, once he became mobile I had to keep him safe. I childproofed my home. I put up gates to restrict his access, and removed anything that could possibly cause him harm – typical when you have a toddler in the home. Well, at the end of the day when he was safely snuggled in bed the gates would come down, so I could get around without fussing with the gates.
Here’s the lesson. On one particular week, it was already late morning and for whatever reason I had failed to put up the security gates. I hadn’t even noticed they were still down. I was busy getting his bath water ready and he was running around all excited. At that time, he was small enough that I could bath him in the kitchen sink. Well, he was faster than a speeding bullet and smarter than the average bear, I always said. Well, this little guy, in his running around realized the gates were not in place, and doors were opened that should have been closed. Guess what this little guy did…He is still running around so I’m after him. He stopped in front of the bathroom. He pulled on the doorknob and closed the bathroom door. He was pointing and saying something. I can’t honestly say I understood what he was saying. Well, then he brought me the gate that goes on the stairs. Ahh, I got the message. I had forgotten to put up the gates. So, I put up the one he brought to me. Then he grabs the other gate. Well, this little fella may not have understood that the gates were there for his safety. He just knew they were supposed to be up.
I was impressed. He was not even 20 months and I was like…wow! Maybe he did not sense the danger, or realize that he was not allowed in certain areas. But he did recognize that the gates were supposed to be up. It got me to thinking… as Christians we should be using such wisdom. The Scriptures instruct us to avoid temptation, pitfalls, the wiles of the enemy and we find it hard-pressed to avoid them, even though as adults – we know better. The Lord gave us the ability to discern right from wrong, good from bad… We too are familiar with boundaries – to do just that… to avoid places that can cause us to stumble.
Matthew 21:16 “…and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants you have perfected praise’?”
1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
James 4:7
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Be blessed.
Living in the Last Hour 
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