Inside: When conflicting reports and ideas swirl around us with ever-increasing intensity, it’s easy to get confused, overwhelmed or discouraged. Here’s one way to respond. ~

Molly was little—still young enough to sleep in a crib and take afternoon naps.

Our sweet girl usually woke up from her siestas quietly. She’s always been resourceful and imaginative, so there’s really no telling what all she did when we thought she was sleeping. Knowing her like we do now, it’s safe to assume she spent a significant amount of time playing around in her bed before she ever let us know she wanted to get up.

One day, though, she got herself into a bit of a pickle. When we heard her cries and ran upstairs to see what was wrong, we found that one of her pudgy little legs was stuck between the slats in the crib.

Randy attempted to bend the slats apart. He wiggled Molly’s leg around. He slathered it with baby lotion and tried to slide it through the opening.

Nothing Worked

He finally concluded the only solution was to cut one of the slats. He went to the garage to fetch a saw and was on his way back to Molly’s room when Lilly, the ever-protective big sister, saw what he was doing.

Horrified, she grabbed on to his leg with as much of a death grip as her five-year-old body could muster.

“No, Daddy,” she shrieked. “Don’t cut her leg off!”

Randy had no intention of doing that, of course. From Lilly’s perspective, though, Molly was stuck in her crib, and Daddy had a saw.

What Else Was She to Think?

We laugh about this now, but it’s also a sobering reminder that things aren’t always as they seem. First impressions are often inaccurate. A lack of understanding can lead to assumptions that are flat-out wrong.

Even after a great deal of thought or careful research, the “right answer” still might not be obvious. Not every solution is a finger swipe away. Even when we’re confident in our intelligence, sensory abilities or investigative skills, we can miss things—sometimes very important things.

In these tumultuous days, when conflicting reports and ideas about practically everything swirl around us with ever-increasing intensity, it’s easy to get confused, overwhelmed, perhaps even depressed. Truth exists, of course. But amid all the noise and “expert” opinions, it’s sometimes hard to discern, especially when we lack all the facts or even the ability to fully understand the situation.

1 Simple Prayer

More and more, as I ponder my responses to situations far more serious than a pudgy leg stuck in a crib, I find myself whispering one simple prayer to our omniscient God:

“Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me.” (Psalm 43:3)

Time after time, He is faithful to answer—if only with the quiet reassurance of His presence.

• • •

Have you ever found yourself in a spot similar to Lilly, where what seemed to be happening was not at all what was taking place? What did you learn from the experience? Please share in the comments.

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.