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The costumes were laid out and ready when it happened.

On Halloween afternoon, my toddler threw a ball into our propane heater, and it caught fire. I struggled to think clearly. I could imagine something terrible happening. As I tried to think, my six-year-old took control and instructed her siblings to come away from the fire. I was grateful because I felt too paralyzed to make a sound decision.

In a flurry of not knowing what to do, I called 911. The entire fire department came, but everything was fine. Only the one toy went up in smoke.

While dressing my kids for our night out, I felt like the most incapable momma. Tears came, and I didn’t feel like getting out. Rather, I felt like crawling into a hole.

My feelings weren’t new. But since it was Halloween, we packed up and made it to the event our little town puts together each year. We saw people we knew from church and from school. We laughed. My kids’ eyes widened as they enjoyed the pumpkin decorating, the games, and the dazzling costumes.

Normally, I’m not a party person, but that night I enjoyed community and was glad I didn’t crawl into that hole. I needed those people to help me out of myself and to remember we are all human after all. In spite of our messes, we need to keep moving toward each other, not away. We are people who need people, even in the times when we want to stay away. God knew this, which is why He created Eve.

That Halloween day helped me remember that the times when we feel hopeless and doubtful are the very times we need to share the presence of people. God made us to know Him fully and to find connection with the people He gives us. We are not alone.

When you want to push away, remember you’re not alone. Take a step toward your Maker and the people He puts in your path.   

(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)