Making It Through the Gate

So, I'm child-less for the moment....3 teenagers less in the house makes for a very QUIET and uninteresting day (of course, that's minus the mischief 2 house pets can get into in a day)...already counting down 13 more days left till they return. Wow!
This weekend, we took our children to the airport for their 2-week vacation to Louisiana. We arrived early to the airport to get a gate-pass for my husband and me....only to realize I was "wallet-less." Immediately, my husband went out to the parking deck to search for it; he came back empty handed. Then, we sent our eldest out to do a re-check and he came back fruitless also. We couldn't imagine what had happened to it but finally came to the conclusion that it had slipped out of the truck unnoticed somewhere along the way. I was not allowed to get a gate-pass without my license. (Remember this!) So, after calling to inform the bank of our misfortune and getting everything closed out, I sat there wondering how in the world it happened. A day went by and we told our story. Then, when getting into the vehicle to leave home, my husband noticed something wrong with the door handle casing. Upon further inspection, we realized that we hadn't let my wallet slip out unnoticed, but rather someone had broken in very discreetly. It took us a while to notice.
Anyhow, I started thinking about this situation. You know, the enemy is a sly, old fox. He comes in like a thief. While going your way, thinking everything is fine...all the sudden you realize something important to you is missing. Maybe your joy, or peace, etc. It isn't a theft of which you were an eye-witness. He doesn't always come in like a flood. Remember the wolf in sheep's clothing? He can be quite patient and it may come as a shock to you when you sit back and wonder, "When did that happen?" Needless to say, it is extremely important to take inventory on a regular basis. Hold those things close which are important or dear to you. Don't let anything steal it away from you. The enemy is come to kill, steal and destroy. There are certain things he especially targets...those things which without you cannot make it through THE GATE. I think this was a great spiritual lesson for me and I hope you can find room to add it to your school-book of life.