Most often our urgent prayers regarding our children are for their protection. It is hard to think about other aspects of their lives if we are worried sick over their personal safety. Having to raise my children on my own I had every reason to fear for their safety. So I pray for the Lord’s protection on a daily basis. I pray for their protection from violence, molestation, kidnapping and accidents. “Hide them under the shadow of your wings, from the wicked who oppress them and from the deadly enemies who surround them.”

Though my children have had their share of minor injuries including a couple that required an emergency room and stitches, nothing ever happened to them that came close to being kidnapped, held against their will, or even victims of a hold-up until my son Renzo was involved in one.

Monday afternoon, August 18, Renzo and 3 of his classmates were going to practice at our home. Their meeting place was Trinoma Mall at 1pm . Renzo was accompanied by his elder brother till the time that Renzo was with his classmates. Renzo already with 2 classmates, Ram and Aaron waited for Richard (third classmate), at Olympic Village 4th floor. While waiting, they went thru soccer balls and boxing gloves. Soon after they received a text message from Richard who was now waiting for them at Seattle’s Best, 1st floor. They proceeded to meet Richard and as soon as they were complete they headed for our home but then a man approached them and identified himself as an employee of Olympic Village and even flashed an ID to the boys. The man informed them that they damaged an item and that they should follow him back to the store. The man narrated every move the boys made and true enough one of them accidentally dropped a soccer ball.