A family, all nine of them, loaded all their earthly possessions into a covered wagon pulled by a four-horse hitch. They set out to join 14 other families leaving Arkansas for Texas and the promise of a new land. Rolling through rainstorms, hail, blistering hot days, fighting off insects at night, the wagons rolled across the plains of what is today Oklahoma.

One afternoon a cloud of dust appeared on the horizon behind the group, and the wagon master halted the column and drew them close together into a circle. The men reached for rifles while the women gathered into the center of the wagons. In a few moments it became apparent the dust was coming from a lone rider carrying a parcel across his saddle.

Slowing his horse to a walking gait, the man called out that he meant no harm. The horse stopped, the man got down, reached for the bundle, and unwrapped a small child of no more than two years old.

A cry of recognition tore from the throat of the babe’s mother when she saw her seventh child standing beside the strange man. They did not know the child was missing, but he had fallen from the wagon and the cowboy had found him sitting in the dirt, sifting it through his fingers ... waiting for someone to come back for him (Bulletin Digest).

How many of us are on life’s “wagon train” headed for the Promised Land, become so intent on our own journey that we do not miss those of God’s children who have fallen off along the way?

"Brethren, if a man is overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself lest thou also be tempted" (Galatians 6:1; see also James 5:19-20).