Protect this House

I saw this on a friend's Facebook page. It made me think of the sheepdogs I have in my life that are ready to help me confront the wolf. I hope that those of you who don't want churchy will bear with this post. Russell M. Nelson shared a story about river rafting with his family. I tried to relay the story in my own words, but it just doesn't do the story justice. So here is the story in his words:

"Years ago when Sister Nelson and I had several teenaged daughters, we took our family on a vacation far away from telephones and boyfriends. We went on a raft trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. As we started our journey, we had no idea how dangerous this trip could be.

The first day was beautiful. But on the second day, when we approached Horn Creek rapids and saw that precipitous drop ahead, I was terrified. Floating on a rubber raft, our precious family was about to plunge over a waterfall! Instinctively I put one arm around my wife and the other around our youngest daughter. To protect them, I tried to hold them close to me. But as we reached the precipice, the bended raft became a giant sling and shot me into the air. I landed into the roiling rapids of the river. I had a hard time coming up. Each time I tried to find air, I hit the underside of the raft. My family couldn’t see me, but I could hear them shouting, “Daddy! Where’s Daddy?”

I finally found the side of the raft and rose to the surface. The family pulled my nearly drowned body out of the water. We were thankful to be safely reunited.

The next several days were pleasant and delightful. Then came the last day, when we were to go over Lava Falls, known as the most dangerous drop of the journey. When I saw what was ahead, I immediately asked to beach the raft and hold an emergency family council meeting, knowing that if we were to survive this experience, we needed to plan carefully. I reasoned with our family: “No matter what happens, the rubber raft will remain on top of the water. If we cling with all our might to ropes secured to the raft, we can make it. Even if the raft should capsize, we will be all right if we hang tightly to the ropes.”

I turned to our little seven-year-old daughter and said, “All of the others will cling to a rope. But you will need to hold on to your daddy. Sit behind me. Put your arms around me and hold me tightly while I hold the rope.”

That we did. We crossed those steep, rough rapids—hanging on for dear life—and all of us made it safely. ^1"

At the football games anytime it is 3rd down they chant for protecting the house projects across the stadium. This chant drives me nuts. A few years back at a church meeting a gentleman referred to this chant and asked us if we were protecting our house. As I think about our house and the loved ones that are telling me to hold on....keep clinging to your rope.....put your arms around me tightly..... I know that I am protected. I am so grateful for the dads in my life, my sheepdogs!! (And how about that win over Stanford!!)