Jan 08
7
Afraid of the Dark
Posted by Stephen7
Tags: Daniel, fears
Debbie took the boys for a walk this afternoon. They stopped in at the library, always a popular destination, and by the time they left it was getting dark and a light rain was falling.
During the summer the boys walk to the library and back quite often. It’s way too much effort when the snow is piled up on the sidewalk, so they don’t walk there during the winter. But this week we have unusually warm weather and all the snow has melted. Hence a walk to the library.
It should have been fairly routine, but Daniel was terrified the whole way home, afraid of the dark, afraid of the rain. He was well insulated from the weather, in his coat and boots, so he wasn’t suffering from cold or damp. He wasn’t lonely–he had Mum and two brothers with him–but he wanted Daddy to come and take him away, take him out of the dark, out of the rain. Maybe he remembered getting caught in a downpour last summer. He was pretty miserable then, too.
I can relate. Perhaps not to Daniel’s direct situation–I like rain, and don’t mind the dark–but certainly to the fear of present circumstances, of wanting to be anywhere but here, of remembering past traumas. Like Daniel, I also cry out to my Heavenly Father.
In my distress I called to the Lord;
I cried out to my God.
From his heavenly temple he heard my voice;
he listened to my cry for help.Psalm 18:6 (NET)
At the time of Daniel’s cries I was driving home from work, oblivious to a small boy’s distress. I didn’t find out about it until I got home and was met at the door by a son who was very pleased to see me. He was home, in the light, dry, with his Dad. Safe.
So I will give you thanks before the nations, O Lord!
I will sing praises to you!Psalm 18:49 (NET)
