“Anyone who believes in God shall not perish but have eternal life." ~ John 3:16
Aaron (6) watched the sea, lost in
the rhythmic percussion of waves pounding sand. His eyes locked steadily on the
horizon, face aglow from the sun’s warmth. His lips revealed a quizzical look,
just enough to show that he was preoccupied with his thoughts, whatever they
may be.
His mother, Lucy, moved closer so that he felt her presence,
yet stayed quiet, allowing him to stay lost in the ponderous moment a while
longer. Another homeschooling journey - learning through study, reading books
together, taking long nature walks, and getting messy fingers in a myriad of hands-on
activities.
After her husband (Aaron’s
father) left, homeschooling brought them closer. Today they did math first
thing while brains were still fresh. Then mixed ingredients for bread, doing 5
ten-minute exercise videos between kneading the dough. It rose while they
headed for a short walk to the beach to gather inspiration for things she
wanted him to write, draw or ask questions about later.
“When we visit the ocean,” Lucy continued, “we use all 5 of
our senses. Seeing the ocean’s blue/grey
color gives us a sense of calm. Your sense of smell is stimulated when your
lungs expand, absorbing the scent of salt water. We can also taste the briny
sea.”
“I especially love hearing the waves crash against
the shore. Finally, the sense of touch. When we’re in the water, we give
up gravity and our bodies relax. We feel refreshed and renewed. The ocean is kinda
like medicine,” Lucy concluded.
“What are your thoughts, Aaron,” she asked her young son,
still nursing his own thoughts.
His face twisted into something mournful. “It’s kinda sad,”
he said. “The waves seem to enjoy themselves, bouncing along in the deep blue
water - skipping, dancing, and splashing - over and over until they crash into
the shoreline. Then they die into nothing.”
“Oh no,” said his mother. “They’re not just a single wave; they
are part of the ocean. Like you Aaron, you are not just a boy, you are a child
of God, part of His Kingdom. It’s not only a place, but it is Jesus ruling in
the hearts of all who love him. When we trust in God, the Bible says we will
not die. All of us will live eternally, in God's presence.”
They returned hungry, shaped the bread, put it in the oven,
and soon feasted on the world’s best snack. Another lesson … another memory.
Heavenly Father, please forgive me. I
believe Your Son died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead so that I
might have eternal life. Come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. I willingly
give You my life to do your will. Amen
