There’s those events in life that make you really stop and think about, well, life. The days you are given, the moments you should catch and hold onto.

Recently some dear friends of ours lost their 25 year old son completely unexpectedly. He was a strong, healthy, young man and then he was gone.

Then last week, we had an incident that will remain with me a long time.

We were celebrating a birthday in town and eating supper. Lukas was on my lap but didn’t want any more food so I set him down to play while I finished. He wandered over to his sister and wanted more food. Suddenly, Isaiah said, “I think he’s choking” and grabbed him and started hitting him on the back. How he knew how to do that, I don’t know, but he did. Nothing happened so I grabbed Lukas and started banging on him.

Andrew joined in. The rest of the party was totally silent. It was like time slowed down and I was aware of every person in the room sitting like statues watching Andrew and I bang on this little baby as he turned blue. I kept saying, “Breathe, baby” and “Jesus” over and over, the only prayer I could formulate. Afterwards Andrew and Isaiah said they were praying too. I love that we turn to God so quickly in the midst of scary circumstances. It’s a testimony to Him about His faithfulness in our lives!

My sister in law asked over and over, “Should I call 911?” I think I said yes, but she didn’t hear me. Finally, Isaiah (the true hero of this story) said very firmly, “Auntie Jen, call 911 now!”

By this time a couple minutes had passed and Lukas was blue and puffy in the face. I was near hysterics and could feel the panic rising in my chest. I physically had to force it down as I thought, if I start crying now I’ll freak out completely.

Finally, after what felt like eternity, Lukas coughed up a chunk of watermelon and began to raggedly suck in air. It took a few moments for him to get all the gunk out and really breathe well, but those first little cries and inhalations were like music to my ears. That’s when the tears and shaking set in.

And, that’s when the police officer came in and the paramedics showed up. Thank the Lord for those responders! Thank the Lord I didn’t really need them anymore! I was reassured by them though. They listened to Lukas and took his pulse and watched him suck his fingers and giggle.

That night when we were putting Lukas to bed, he was playing peekaboo with Andrew and laughing so hard his legs and arms were dancing. I just started to cry all over again, thinking how that moment, that sweet and simple bedtime moment may not have been.

I realized that everyday can’t be amazing and out of the ordinary. Everyday can’t be special all day long, but I can capture a moment each day. Everyday is a gift. Have you thought about that? We aren’t guaranteed a long life or a future. We don’t know if we’ll have tomorrow. I know we’ve all heard that before, but truly think about that. We really only have today. And yes, we have laundry to do and dishes to wash and kids need to get to bed. But try to capture just one moment each day, try to catch one memory each day.

We can’t control a lot in life. There are so many circumstances and situations out of our control all the time. But we can control which moments we hang onto and what perspective we’ll have in the midst of life. That memory of Lukas giggling and playing with Daddy before bed is what I choose to capture from that day. And today, I’m looking for a moment to capture as well, not on my smart phone, but in my mind, as a reminder to cherish today, because it’s really all I’ve got.

Psalm 91

¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.^[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

³ Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹ If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴ “Because he^[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”