My Husband, My Hero

Usually I tease Jeff for being overly careful with our children; he’s Johnny-on-the-spot to prevent any/every accident possible. Sometimes I tell him that he can’t prevent every accident and he simply needs to learn to trust God to take care of us.

Tonight, though, I am most thankful for his ever so cautious eye because he saved a little girl’s life.

Our church held a re-scheduled 4th of July church-wide picnic tonight. Today was a beautiful day with unseasonably cool weather - - like not quite reaching 90. For Texas, remember, that’s unseasonably cool. One of the sweet couples in our church hosted the event, and they have a glorious pool. Two of our members served as lifeguards, but shooed everyone out of the pool when it was time to eat. We happened to be sitting at the table closest to the pool, still several hundred yards away.

Jeff had taken Gideon and Scarlett in the pool earlier and they’d had a great time holding onto Daddy while splishing and splashing. Scarlett was now at the table entertaining me and the rest of our crew (especially my friend, Rachel) with her “ice cream” eating endeavors. She was supposed to be sharing with me; only this little girl was downing the ice cream concoction (several different flavors) at a rate of speed and consistency that a race car driver couldn’t possibly even catch. It’s like she knew this would be the only time she’d get that much ice cream all to herself, so she wasn’t wasting any time.

Meanwhile, Gideon had gotten bored with the whole eating thing and dashed about the yard with Jeff hot on his heels. When he got too close to the pool, Jeff reigned him in. I was sitting at a table facing the pool and noticed them, but barely. I was too busy giggling at Scarlett’s obvious mama-inspired enjoyment. She didn’t even seem to get a brain freeze.

Anyway, I heard a splash and saw a streak of yellow in the water right beside Gideon and Jeff, who had stepped into the pool onto the first step. Then all I could see was part of the face of a little girl I didn’t really know bobbing up, sinking down, bobbing back up, sinking back down under the water, and so forth about 3 times. With one arm Jeff held Gideon back, and with the other outstretched, he took a giant step into the water. He’d already changed into dry clothes but that didn’t stop him. I pushed back my chair, left Scarlett standing on hers, and took off running toward them thinking that I had to grab Gideon so Jeff could have both arms to reach her. By the time I got to the pool, however, he’d already grabbed the little girl out with one arm. I snatched her from him, took her in my arms, and gave her the once over. Obviously she was very scared and trying to catch her breath, so I walked her over to her grandfather and briefly told him that she’d jumped in without her vest and Jeff had to go in after her.

That sentence probably didn’t fully explain the severity of the situation because I was anxious to simply get her into her family’s arms, and it was only after I sat back down at the table (where Scarlett hadn’t taken a break in her ice cream fest) that it hit me. I was immediately sobered by the realization that the night could have ended much differently, in tragedy, while we all sat around having a great time oblivious to everything but our own conversations. Jeff’s heroics went unnoticed, except by our table. That’s not such a big deal, but when I kept seeing that little face bobbing up and down in my mind’s eye, struggling and struggling, my mother’s heart went into panic mode. I realized that if Jeff hadn’t been standing where he was, carefully observing everything around him, that little girl’s desperate plight could have gone completely unnoticed, too. And that’s a huge deal.

Thank you, Lord, that my husband was there. Thank you, Lord, that your guardian angels were watching over that little girl. Thank you, Lord, for lengthening her life so that she may someday be used to bring you honor and glory. Watch over my own children each and every day. Protect their lives so they can grow to love and serve you, too.

Jeff was a hero…one of those unsung types. But, that doesn’t matter. I know if he sees a need, he’s going to react. I am so thankful…so very thankful, and for that very reason, he’s my hero.