Leigh the Protector

Like cannibals with stick spears, my big brother Leigh and I stood on the edge of our lawn and stared across the driveway at our neighbor’s house.  Leigh was already five and a half, which seemed practically grown up next to my “almost” four years old.  We were waiting for the demonic boys who had been terrorizing me to come out and “cross” the line. 

For months I’d been too scared to go outside because of the next door boys.   If I went into the backyard to swing, they’d be lying in wait to grab me and start biting.  When I was able to break free and make it into the house, my arms would be covered with marks left from their sharp teeth. Talks between my parents and the grandparents who were raising the boys had done nothing to improve the situation.

Dad wanted to walk across the driveway and pry their carnivorous teeth out one by one, but since that would most likely send him to prison for a very long time, he did what any responsible dad would do.  He sat my two big brothers down for an important “grown up” talk.

“Boys,” he began, “I never want you to fight and hit people for the sake of hitting.  That is very wrong, but if someone hurts one of your sisters, it is your job to protect them.  No one has the right to hit or bite your sisters, and if they do, you need to do what it takes to make them stop.”

Leigh’s eyes were getting a dangerous sparkle that spoke doom for the neighbors.  “Do you mean I can hit them if they bite Laura?” he asked.

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about,” said Dad.

Ethan was in school for most of the day and content to address the situation when it next arose, but Leigh, he was ready now!  And so here we were waiting for the brothers to come attack me when Leigh made the astute observation that we were probably a little obvious with our sticks.  We sat down on the grass while he thought it over. 

“I’ve got an idea,” he said after a minute.  “I’m going to climb that tree, and you play under it.  When they come to get you, I’ll jump out of the tree and land on top of them.”

Amazingly, unlike so many Brady Bunch episodes, Leigh’s plan worked to perfection.  He beat the stuffing out of those urchins while I jumped up and down cheering for my hero and protector.   From then on, I played in peace outside our house.

All of that was many, many years ago, and now I don’t always have the luxury of a big brother around to protect me.  Fortunately, I have One who is greater than any big brother.  I can securely put my trust in God knowing only what He allows will take place. Although God may allow someone to hurt me physically, He has promised that no-one can touch my soul.  “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”  (Matthew 10:28) 

What a relief, but this verse is not for everyone, only those who have accepted Christ as their Savior can rest in this assurance.  The verse finishes with, “Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”  If you don’t know Christ personally but would like to know Him, please contact me through the contact tab.

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