The Invisible Shield

FRIDAY MORNING:

Today is Andrew's birthday, but since Derek's parents were not available today to celebrate Andrew's birthday, they asked if they could come over to our house last night and give Andrew his gifts.

So, Derek drove to the store with Andrew and let him pick out a cake and ice cream for the early birthday celebration.

After dinner, Cherish put candles on the cake while I got the camera. Andrew asked if he could light his candles. Derek said yes--since Andrew had worked on lighting matches over and over and over again with several different adults.

We were going to have him light the candles by the sink, but then thought better of carrying the lit candles over to the table--carrying the lit candles over the heads of the children. So, we put the cake in front of Andrew with a bowl of water next to him for him to put the used lit matches.

Andrew lighting the first match.

 Daddy helping Andrew light the candles with the first two matches:

On the third match, something startled Andrew, and he instinctively threw the match out of his hand. The match landed in Matthew's lap--who was seated next to Derek's dad. Instantly, Matthew's shorts and shirt erupted into fire. I threw the camera down to run to Matthew while Derek's dad started slapping out the flames and Derek began blowing out the fire. Everyone was screaming with horror, and terror took over the room.

By the time I reached Matthew, the fire had disappeared. DISAPPEARED!!!!!! I lifted Matthew out of his booster seat while the screaming and crying continued, but not one iota of any indication was found on him that his clothing had just been on fire! We all looked Matthew over, and NOTHING was found--not even the smell of smoke!

Andrew ran to his room and wailed. He cried for over an hour. I reclined on his bed and put him on me. I tried to get my breathing and heart rhythm to regulate his. He felt so badly!

After I was able to return to the kitchen I took a look at the table cloth in front of Matthew's seat. It was untouched by the fire. As I was cleaning up, Cherish came out and examined the table cloth as I had done. She marveled at finding no traces of the fire as well.

Two people mentioned that night that they had immediately thought of the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from Daniel 3, when we examined Matthew and found no traces of the fire--including no smell of smoke.

All I could think was that there had to have been an invisible shield around Matthew's body and face. There is absolutely no explanation as to why Matthew was not in a trauma burn center.

This morning when Matthew woke up, Derek said: "Good morning, Matthew!" Matthew said: "Good morning, Daddy. I had fire!"

Matthew's first thoughts were on the fire--even without knowing the implications of the dangers or effects of fire.

This miracle of protection has rocked our family!

Thank You, LORD, for Your protection!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our "thanks" has no real words!


FRIDAY NIGHT UPDATE:

Andrew had trouble eating at the table. He would point to Matthew's seat and say, "That's where Matthew caught on fire."

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Cherish came to me to tell me she was sorry. She had been standing behind Matthew's chair holding his hands up so he wouldn't try to reach for the matches or the bowl. When the match flew at Matthew, his shirt was up above his belly button (due to Cherish holding his hands up), and she saw the match land on his bare belly. She saw his shirt and shorts instantly ignite, dropped his hands, and ran backwards. (This is when George and Derek--who were closest to Matthew--sprang into action.)

Of course I told her there was nothing to be sorry about. We train children to run from fire, and her first instinct was to get away.

She said she actually saw the match land on Matthew's skin just bellow his belly button. There are no marks of any match. There is no burn on his skin!

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Derek's dad called to ask about Matthew. He couldn't get the image of the "flames" out of his mind. He said he just couldn't understand how the fire "disappeared". (He had used the same word I did to describe the phenomenon.) The fire did not go down or smolder.... It literally disappeared!

GOD did a miracle!
To know He sees us and knows beforehand what is going to happen makes us stand in AWE of Him!!!