"I’ll Throw Him to God!": The Untamed Courage of a Child

True story inspired by the 4 year old Amarey Butler

The other day, I was catching up with one of my best friends. We were reminiscing about life, and somehow the conversation turned to our kids. He shared a story that left us both marveling at the pure, unadulterated nature of children – a nature untainted by the anxieties and worries that cloud our adult lives.

My friend described a moment playing in the backyard with his four-year-old son. They were tossing a ball back and forth when his son, in his boundless curiosity, wandered towards a tree with a large hole at its base. Instinctively, my friend, driven by a touch of concern and caution, called out, "Be careful around that hole, buddy! There might be a snake in there!"

His son, however, stopped and looked him dead in the eye with the most innocent, trusting gaze. In a voice filled with unwavering certainty, he declared, "If there's a snake in there, Dad, I'll just grab him and throw him to God!"

My buddy and I burst out laughing. It wasn't just the unexpectedness of his response, but the sheer conviction and lack of hesitation in his voice. There was no fear, no concern, no weighing of possibilities. His response flowed effortlessly, a pure expression of his innocent worldview.

In that moment, it struck us both – here was a child living in a state of perfect love, where fear is truly cast out. He knew no danger, no worry, no concept of "what ifs." His world existed in a space of pure trust and a belief that everything would be okay.

There's a powerful lesson to be learned from children like my friend's son. They remind us of the inherent strength and resilience we possess before life hardens us. They show us the power of living fearlessly, trusting instinctively, and approaching the world with unwavering optimism.

Perhaps, as we navigate our complex adult lives, we can all strive to recapture a bit of that childlike wonder, that unwavering faith in the good, and the belief that even if there are snakes in the world, we can always "grab them and throw them to God."

Thank you Amarey Butler for reminding us that God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.