Almost every time I go somewhere and run into someone I know, they want to know if I have my baby with me. Totally understandable – she’s the cutest baby in the world. And her joining our family is a miraculous and special story. So she’s kind of a local celebrity. My mom loves showing her off and she’ll often tell people, “Let me show you a picture of my newest grandbaby,” to which many often reply, “Oh, I know that baby!”

But if you see me out and about, there’s a good chance I won’t have my sweetie with me. I avoid taking her along with me whenever I possibly can, and it’s probably not for the reason you’re thinking. I mean, sure, it’s partly for the convenience (because let’s be honest – 15 month-olds aren’t easy to take ANYWHERE). But I leave her home with Daddy or take her to Nana and Papa’s house for one primary reason: safety. We’ve all seen the articles and posts about abductions (attempted or successful) of children, sometimes right from their own parents’ arms. It’s happening all the time, all around us. I’ve had a handful of instances myself that made me uncomfortable — solitary men taking too great an interest in my daughter, strangers asking too specific of questions about her, people getting just a little too close to us.

The depravity required to take a child for reasons so sickening (sex trafficking, organ harvesting, slavery, etc.) is something I can’t even begin to process in my mind, much less discuss, so I won’t. Life without my daughter would be unimaginable. But the thought of her being taken? It would be the absolute end of me.

So my baby girl stays home or Daddy comes along whenever we can make that work. Sometimes that means I don’t get groceries until after she’s in bed. Sometimes my errands have to wait. I know that this isn’t a possibility for many families, and there are many times it isn’t possible for us either. But still we try. When we can’t, I’m hyper-vigilant about our surroundings and try to wear her in our baby carrier as often as possible.

Now let me be clear —  I do not believe we should walk in fear. But I do believe fully that we should walk in wisdom. And when we do this, we actually gain freedom and peace. Proverbs 4:6 says, “Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you. Love her, and she will watch over you.”  I don’t know about you, but I want wisdom’s protection over my family. So I cling to her with all my might.