Article March 4, 2013 Issue

Protected by the Shepherd

Linda Davidson

For several months I’d been studying the 23rd Psalm. I loved its promise of protection and guidance, especially these lines: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies” (verses 4, 5). Each day the Psalm’s comforting truths would fill my thought and I would feel thoroughly cared for and deeply loved.

During this time, I assisted our family business by handling certain aspects of payroll. I often reasoned with my husband that workers should be paid with a check, but his practice was to pay in cash. So, it was normal for us to have a great sum of cash at our home the night before pay day. My concerns gave way to feelings of great uncertainty about what might happen.

One evening at home, the payroll was locked away in a file cabinet, and I was in the office doing some work when I heard a knock at the front door. My husband opened it and I heard conversation, then a strange noise. I started to the living room to see what was going on, then stopped short in the dining room as I saw in a mirrored reflection a masked man holding my husband down on the couch at gunpoint.