15 Dec, 2006
Man recognized as hero for catching falling toddler
ARLINGTON, Virginia: It took a second or two for Jaimen Ortiz to fully comprehend what he was seeing: two toddlers playing in an open second-floor window, and one of them hanging from the window sill.
So Ortiz hopped a fence and ran to the apartment building. Just as he got there, the 2-year-old girl fell, screaming. Ortiz put out his arms and caught her cleanly, perhaps saving her life and certainly preventing serious injury.
"If I had delayed one more second, she would have fallen to the ground," Ortiz said through a Spanish interpreter, recalling the Oct. 13 incident.
Ortiz's quick thinking was honored Tuesday in Arlington, where the County Board presented him a certificate of recognition for his heroism.
Arlington Police Chief Doug Scott said it was unusual for a citizen to react so quickly to an out-of-the-ordinary situation.
Ortiz, 29, seemed slightly overwhelmed by the attention he received Tuesday as he fielded multiple interview requests.
"I have a 5-year-old child, and you never know. Maybe someday he might need help like I was able to give to this girl," he said.
While he was unaccustomed to the recognition, it was not the first time he has been a hero. As a teenager growing up in Guatemala, he helped save the wife of a friend from drowning.
photo courtesy AP & story iht.com, 12/12/06
A baby is rescued!
What does today's God's Story tell us about the ultimate rescue involving a baby?
Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes explain it this way:
1:21 Jesus means "the Lord saves." Jesus came to earth to save us because we can't save ourselves from sin and its consequences. No matter how good we are, we can't eliminate the sinful nature present in all of us. Only Jesus can do that. Jesus didn't come to help people save themselves; He came to be their Savior from the power and penalty of sin. Thank Christ for His death on the cross for your sin, and then ask Him to take control of your life. Your new life begins at that moment.
Today's story of the baby being saved by the guy making a great catch is amazing! But the ultimate rescue story involving a baby is when God sent His Son, Jesus, to earth, to save us from our sins! Have you caught His gift of salvation? Are you telling others how to be rescued?
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Take a couple of minutes to just listen to the Heavenly Father....now praise Jesus for coming to earth as a baby to rescue you....now ask Him to help you live to tell your rescue story to someone who really needs God's story of salvation!
- Between now and Christmas, take several minutes every day just to reflect on Christ coming as a baby to rescue you.
- If you have never received Christ as your Savior, ask Him to forgive you of your sins and come into your life and take control. Be sure to email us with this good news, so that we can send you some info to help you grow in your faith!
How can we connect today's story, God's Story and our story to others?
Use today's story about the young hero who saved the falling baby as a conversation starter to share your "rescue story" with a friend or family member who is not yet a follower of Jesus. You could ask someone in your storysphere if they heard about today's (baby rescue) story? Then you can really get their attention by saying "Did you know that I was rescued by a baby?"
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