Using the coupons my girls got from the library’s reading program we visited the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks today. This was my first visit.  I highly recommend it.  Not only did I take my 3 girls, but I also brought along one of my oldest daughter’s good friends as well as the baby girl I babysit twice a week.  We marveled at every single fish, turtle, anemone, and all the fascinating sea creatures God so creatively designed!  One creature was called a sea cucumber. Check this out… a sea cucumber in self-defense can eject internal organs at it’s predator, then grow new organs!  Crazy, huh?

At the end of the aquarium there is a large pool full of sting rays that are swimming  right below our noses.  If we wanted, we could have reached our hands into the pool and caught one. One of the things that comes to my mind immediately ( and maybe yours as well) when I see a sting ray or hear about one, is the tragedy that occurred to Jeff Irwin (Crocodile Hunter).  Anyway…as all 6 of us girls were peering into the pool, a role reversal came about.  I was holding Marlee (baby girl, 16 months old) so that she could see the “fishees” swim.  My oldest, Braelyn, got so nervous and concerned for Marlee.  Braelyn told me numerous times to “hold her tightly”.  Instead of me telling Braelyn not to get so close or to not touch the water, she was instructing me.  You see, Braelyn (being almost 13) had a rational fear of the consequences of touching the sting ray.  She also knew, Marlee did not.  Marlee had no clue that if I dropped her, life and death were at stake… not just with the sting rays, but with the water as well.  I am so proud of my daughter for feeling for someone else.  Braelyn had the heart of a parent for those few moments.  That is definitely one of our jobs as parents is to forsee danger then help prevent our child(ren) from entering the danger. In the same way, Our Heavenly Father can see things we cannot. He knows things we do not.  He loves us infinitely.  He warns us.  He sends the red flags.  May we be so careful to listen to His tender voice that we stay clear of the danger zone and instead marvel at His wonders!