Stranger Danger! That was one of the lessons taught to children ages 4–7 during a 2-week summer program called "Safety Town" in our Chicago suburb. Aside from learning how to cross the street safely, and getting to drive toy cars, the children were told by the teen volunteers that they should never talk to or follow a stranger for any reason. Our son shared this with us during dinner one evening.

All of us, including his three-year-old sister, listened and nodded. Yet I was still surprised when, several days later, she “scolded” me for talking to a woman in the neighborhood whom we had never seen before. “Mom, you shouldn’t do that! She could be stranger danger!” She was being overzealous and taking the warning a bit too literally, to be sure. Nonetheless, in that moment she believed she was protecting me from harm.

Who have been the good shepherds in your community whose faith-filled words and actions have helped keep you from danger?

By Christine Vogel from D365