He Will Bind Himself To Me

Alligators lived under my Grammy’s bed. At least, that’s what she told me. I think she wanted me to stay put and thought that silly tale would help. It did. When I had to use her tiny bathroom in the middle of the night, I’d stand up on the covers, step onto the old chest at the end of her bed, and spring, as far as my skinny legs could spring, into the bathroom. I’m sure I didn’t really believe there were alligators, but something in me delighted in the idea.

Grammy also told me about Jesus and prayed with me each night I stayed with her. She would say, Now I lay me down to sleep… and I would repeat each phrase of the prayer after her. Then she would list all the people in my life to be thankful for: Thank you for Mommy…Daddy…Grammy…Pop Pop…and so on. I closed my eyes and repeated all of Grammy’s words into my tightly folded fingers.

The threat of bedroom alligators faded as I grew, but the Savior Grammy put in my heart never did. I never questioned it. Jesus was in my heart and that was that. I may not have always known what that meant to me and my life, but I was His and I never doubted that. Jesus has me safe in His hands and nothing, not even the jaws of an alligator, can snatch me away.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.         John 10:27-30