"What a funny thing to say." "Wonder what made her think of that?" "Just how thin IS the skin on my feet?" You might be thinking all these things and more. Indeed, what could cause me to ponder the wonders of podiatry on this ordinary day? Well, just imagine with me for a minute...

Imagine it is a steaming, humid, typical southern weekday. Imagine that Daddy is home, since he is unemployed *******but only temporarily because HE RECEIVED A JOB OFFER THAT HE ACCEPTED******* anyway- we are imagining that Daddy is home...and he put up a new tire swing (with S-hooks and chains- a really "suuuped up" model!). Imagine that some of the kids have the idea to put the sprinkler in the vicinity of the tire swing so they could swing through it. Imagine with me still that the imaginary children are screaming with delight because this is such a great idea and doesn't that cool them off so efficiently? Now imagine that a breeze kicks up and a dark cloud passes briefly over the sun. Can you just imagine how those children might start to shiver? Well, then imagine that two of the children decide to stretch out on the driveway to get warm from the concrete. What smart imaginary children these are!!!

Meanwhile, inside the imaginary house, one might imagine that the mom decides to go to the bank before the close of the business day. Imagine that this mom comes out of the house and, upon seeing the children in the driveway, says, "I am about to back up the van. You need to get out of the driveway for minute." Imagine those two children respond quickly and cheerfully because, afterall, since we are imagining, we might as well imagine that these children ALWAYS obey the first time. But imagine that between the time this mom gets into the van that another of the children runs to "warm up" on the driveway because he didn't hear that his mom would be leaving. Imagine that mom checks her rearview and side mirrors and doesn't see anything and begins to back up.

But something doesn't feel right. Now horrifically imagine that mom hears an imaginary scream so she jerks her steering wheel to the right and slams the gear shift into "D" and then "P". Imagine this mom flies out of the van and rushes around the back to find her imaginary child screaming and holding his feet and that imaginary blood is pouring through his fingers. Imagine that Dad grabs a towel and scoops up this imaginary child and rushes off to the ER.
Is is just me or does this seem like deja vu? Thankfully, this isn't the same child we are deja vu-ing about!!
Imagine that mom washes, dries, and clothes the other three imaginary children and that an imaginary woman from their church comes over and drives them to the ER to see their son/brother.

Stay with me, please. I promise it's not much longer...Imagine mom rushes through the ER doors to the exam room where she finds her imaginary child hooked up to a morphine drip and antibiotics just. in. case. they. may. want. to. operate. Imagine this child is wheeled off to x-ray and that an imaginary orthopedic surgeon and radiologist confirm there are no broken bones. That is just the grace of God, my friends, no imagining here. Now imagine that the ER doc comes in to stitch up the gaping wounds on this child's foot, but decides that one wound is so deep there is no imaginary skin to stitch together, so we just have to let that wound heal from the inside/out. But the other wound is very deep and they must try to stitch that one closed. Now imagine that this child must be on anibiotics and narcotics for 10 days for infection/pain. Imagine, too, that the ER doc has just told a 10-year old boy that he can't walk for 3 days, except to the bathroom- and even then on crutches. That this imaginary boy can't get his foot wet for 4-6 weeks or until a heavy scab forms.

Now imagine this mom's incredible guilt. Imagine her grasping at God's grace, apprehending His mercy, and walking it out. Imagine an incredibly sensitive and forgiving son who tells this mom, "I love you, mom. I should have been paying attention. It's not your fault." Imagine this mom asking for your prayers for her son's healing. Imagine how very thankful this family is for the support of their church family during this time of need.

Can you just imagine?