Traveler caught the train, forgot the baby

WASHINGTON — Commuters rushing for the train typically forget things in the car: keys, wallets, briefcases. But a baby daughter?

Police say that's what happened just north of Washington on Thursday.

Jonathan Sander rode a subway train into the nation's capital before he realized he'd left his seven-month-old daughter in the car parked at a station in Maryland.

He returned, but by that time commuters had spotted the baby in the car and firefighters had opened the locked door. The baby was taken to the hospital as a precaution and reunited with her mother.

Sander is described as "terrified" and "embarrassed." He could face a fine and 30 days in jail.

picture courtesy images.google.com & story courtesy AP, 03/24/06

¹³Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their sorrow. ¹⁴Yet Jerusalem says, "The LORD has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us." ¹⁵"Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for a child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! ¹⁶See, I have written your name on my hand. Ever before me is a picture of Jerusalem's walls in ruins.

WHAT DOES TODAY'S SCRIPTURE TEACH US ABOUT GOD'S COMMITMENT TO US AS A LOVING FATHER?

Here's some practical insight from Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes:

49:14, 15  The people of Israel felt that God had forgotten them in Babylon; but Isaiah pointed out that God would never forget them, as a loving mother would not forget her little child.  When we feel that God has forsaken us, we must ask if we have forsaken and forgotten God (see Deuteronomy 31:6).

Obviously, the dad who made his train, but forgot his baby daughter, had his mind elsewhere.  So that we don't forget today's scriptural truth, remember:

• We often leave God behind, because our focus is on everything else.
• Even when we forget God, He never forgets us or leaves us.
• We can't allow the examples of less-than-perfect earthly fathers to mess up our minds about the Truth about the Heavenly Father.  He is holy, perfect, and unconditionally loves us with an everlasting love.  Plus, the Father never breaks a promise.

So don't be a baby Christian and think that God forgets you.  Trust the Father and let Him train you in His ways.

Praise your Heavenly Father for His promise to never forget you, leave you, or let you down.  Confess any way in which you may have been forgetting Him recently.  Thank Him for His forgiveness through Christ.  Ask Jesus to help you keep your focus on Him so that you might remember His presence and follow His leading in every part of your life.

• Start every day by thanking your Heavenly Father for His love, presence, and commitment to you.
• Memorize Isaiah 49:16 and write God's name on the palm of your hand for a couple of days as a reminder of how God constantly has you on His mind.
• Write down a "top ten" list of what you appreciate about God. Take it with you to school, work, or anywhere else where you find yourself very focused and easily distracted from remembering God. 
• Encourage another friend by sharing this Daily Devo with him or her.

Daily Devos is published Monday through Friday. Archives can be found at YFC.ORG.  Its purpose is to help you apply truths from God's Word every day.

Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been involved with Youth For Christ for 30 years. He's served as Campus Life Staff, as a writer, and in leadership for the DCLA Conferences. Byron is married to Linda and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, and a daughter in college.  He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.