Runaways

The boys and I were clashing heads. I don’t remember what about and neither do they. Many many seasons have passed since that summer day. I have a feeling the two young instigators had employed the “push Mama” button one too many times. My exasperation tank was full to the point that I had stepped out back to regroup. This was long enough for seven-year-old Daniel to write a detailed note on the back of a used envelope before he and his five-year-old brother, Caleb, would run away. They cautiously escaped through the front doors with their plastic grocery sack of supplies before I reentered the house from the back.

The first thing I noticed after crossing the threshold was that the house was as quiet as a church sanctuary on Monday. A welcome change, but not necessarily a good sign. I spied the note on the kitchen counter and thought it odd that Daniel didn’t just holler out the patio door if he wanted to tell me something. (The length of the note that covered the entire back of the legal sized envelope would have required some effort from a boy his age.) Once I stepped close enough to read it, it became evident why he had chosen to write his message rather than speak it. Caleb and I are moving to JC’s (Daniel’s friend down the country road) until you are happy with us again. Oh dear, those boys were adept at two things – pushing their Mama’s buttons and melting her heart – all in the course of the same morning. What a precious note! He even provided the four digit phone number to JC’s house. I would later tuck the note into a safe page of my scrapbook (where it still resides.)

I peeked outside and noticed that both bikes were gone. These boys had wasted no time to get down to business. Traffic was minimal on our road and the boys were conscientious bike operators so I didn’t worry about them that way. It would take them a bit to ride the two miles to JC’s and using up some of that excess energy might be good for all of us. I called the number Daniel had left me and let JC’s mom know she could expect the boys soon. “Let the boys stay awhile and play,” she said. “JC needs a distraction, too.”

The desire to run away doesn’t always stop once we’ve reached adulthood. I’ve considered that sort of solution just about every time a very difficult crisis occurs. Unlike Daniel, I would make sure I left no destination and no phone number.

Ahhh…if it was only that simple to leave our responsibilities behind and isolate in our miseries. Somehow, we have to find refuge another way. I’ve never taken to drugs or alcohol, shopping or gambling to numb the pain; which by the way leaves us with only a worsened headache or broke. But I have taken to the sweet words of the LORD that loves us. God is my refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So I will not fear, even if earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Psalms 46:1-2.

He can be your refuge, too, no matter what you are going through. He’s a big enough God to handle it – the same Big God that created the world in seven days is patiently waiting to hear from your heart.

Until next month – keep on readin’ and I’ll keep on writin’.