Hidden Danger

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve decided to switch lanes while I’m driving, yet for some reason I don’t. Then within seconds a car that was in the lane I wanted to move into suddenly appears in my peripheral vision—they’d been in my blind spot, and had I switched lanes, I would have hit them.

God completely protected me.

He does that, you know. Protects us even when we don’t know we need it. And I not only love that fact, I am grateful that God cares enough about His children to protect us from unknown dangers.

Like this past week.  I saw a teeny tiny baby spider hugging the rim of my bathroom sink, wondered where on earth it had come from, and promptly washed it down the drain.

The next day, there were about three teeny tiny baby spiders in my bathroom sink. I glanced all around, trying to figure out their entry point, then washed them down the drain without an answer.

The day after that, there were about seven teeny tiny baby spiders in my bathroom sink, and I noticed one on the hand towel that I keep folded close to the sink. The towel I use after I brush my teeth every morning. The towel I use when I wash my face each night.

On a whim, I shook the towel, and dozens—dozens, I tell you—of baby spiders fell down into the sink.

I nearly swooned.

So, armed with a flashlight and my brave son’s help, I went spider hunting in my own bathroom. I never in my wildest nightmare imagined we would discover the spiky egg sac of a brown widow spider in the small drain hole opening at the top of my sink.

But we did.

Which could only mean that a poisonous, pregnant brown widow spider had taken up residence where it clearly did not belong—right where I lean over the sink morning and night.

*Shiver*

With my son’s help, we dislodged the egg sac and found the (now expired) brown widow spider responsible for all the babies, with the telltale red/orange violin shape on its abdomen.

*Shudder*

So this week, I’m more than just a little thankful. Because even though I regularly pray for protection over me and my family, I had no idea I’d come so close to danger. And I’m praising God, who protected me even when I didn’t realize I needed it.

For the Lord shall be your confidence, firm and strong, and shall keep your foot from being caught in a trap or some hidden danger. (Proverbs 3:26)

How about you? Has the Lord recently protected you or someone you love? Tell me about it!