'Daddy, don't make me fall.'

“Daddy, don’t make me fall,” my four-year-old son begged me a number of times as we crossed the suspension bridge in Aya-cho in the mountains of Miyazaki Prefecture this past week. He was really frightened. At 142 meters (465 feet) above the gorge I felt a bit giddy myself.

“Daddy won’t let you fall,” I tried to reassure my little boy. But he found it difficult to believe my words of comfort as he felt the bridge sway and bounce beneath his feet, that is, until I carried him in my arms. He was then able to calm down. In Daddy’s arms he felt much safer. Instead of looking down through the grating at the river, rocks, and trees hundreds of feet below he could look up–at the beauty of the scenery around and above and at me, his “Daddy.”

This experience was a reminder to me that we, in the same way that my son looked to me, need to look to our Heavenly Father when we are tempted to fear. Perhaps we make the same mistake that my son made and say, “Daddy, don’t make me fall,” as if we distrust Him in His intentions for us. We must remember that His intentions for His children are always good and that those who have put their faith in His Son Jesus have no reason to fear. God’s children are held much more safely and tightly in His arms than my own child could ever be in my arms. In life or in death, nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39).

This past week Azusa and I had the privilege of spending time in fellowship with a number of Christian workers in Kyushu. All of us agree that this time of uncertainty and inconvenience due to the effects of the pandemic, rather than being a time to fret and fear, is a wonderful opportunity for believers to give an account for the hope that is in us (I Peter 3:15). It is also a great chance to regularly reach out by phone, email, SNS, and the like to other brothers and sisters when “social distancing” or “physical distancing” is being encouraged or required.

Praise:

• for a short break before Nate’s job begins in April
• for Nate’s new (old) job with the BOE in our town
• for a time of fellowship with the Sadowitz family
• for fellowship camp this past Friday and Saturday

Please Pray:

• for Norman Smith as he trains to run 100 miles for the Siloam Home for Widows and Orphans (click here for more info. )
• for Azusa and the children as she teaches and they learn
• for Siloam International Christian Church
• for our wisdom as we seek to make the most of our resources and opportunities

We thank you for your prayer support!