God had blessed my wife and me with a much-needed break. Usually on vacation we eat out, but tonight was different. My wife generally does the cooking, but tonight, I was cooking for her. I had mixed my special marinade and worked to prepare a delicious supper for her. The smell of fresh broiled scallops and shrimp permeated the air – a highly anticipated dinner after a busy day.

She was seated at the table as I carried the hot dish over to set before her. As I was setting it down, there was a loud explosion and glass flying. In my oven mitt I held one side of the dish. Around the room, shards of glass had spewed over six feet away.

I dropped the piece and frantically looked at my wife, expecting to see shards imbedded in her face. Likewise, she was searching, expecting to see the same in me. The only wound either of us had was a very small shard that had impaled her leg, just above her foot. Oddly enough, this leg had been under the table. She later told me it had probably ricocheted off our guardian angels, because she had kept them busy tonight. Calming our rattled nerves, we stopped to thank God for His mercy and arms of protection.

Later, I took time to ponder what my wife had said. Psalm 91:9-12 tells us,

For you have made the LORD, my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place.
No evil will befall you,
Nor will any plague come near your tent.
For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
To guard you in all your ways.
They will bear you up in their hands,
That you do not strike your foot against a stone.

Obviously, we didn’t get to eat scallops and shrimp, but we did get to bask in the love and protection of the Father. So many times, we take for granted the small things the Heavenly Father does for us. We fail to acknowledge the times he protects us throughout the day, and the ways that he protects us, at times, even from ourselves.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for sending the angels to watch over us. Thank you for your blessings, mercy, and grace on your children, in all ways, great and small. And thank you for the scallops and shrimp – maybe next time.

John Swonger – CBC Executive Board member