“Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." ~ Proverbs 3:5
As a surfer, Jonas dreamed about
how satisfying it would be to paddle out with his newborn, angling for waves,
dropping down the face, and “yooping” that first wave. But first, he’d have to
prepare the boy to be comfortable in the ocean.
They’d driven past the beach
before, but Jonas had yet to put his boy’s tiny feet into the water. Their first visit didn't end well.
Cooper
accidentally rubbed suntan lotion into his eyes causing pain and blurriness. He
played briefly in the sand but avoided the water. Imagine how vast the ocean
looks to a little guy.
Upon arrival, Cooper bolted for the water. A gentle wave
splashed his shins. He giggled. A larger wave followed and knocked him down.
His glee instantly turned to fear and he panicked.
Jumping waves, boogie boarding, and surfing will happen in
due time, Jonas thought. So, they left the water and started building a sand
castle further up the beach.
After several hours, Jonas said, “Cooper, would you like to
walk toward the ocean and see if the water can tickle our toes?” The little boy
hesitated before grabbing his Dad’s hand. They walked far enough from the edge
of the water that the youngster wouldn’t be scared, but close enough so that
when the waves broke, he’d get to feel a little bit of the ocean on his toes.
They walked a quarter mile along the beach, enjoying the new
game before Jonas said, “Do you want to get some more water on our toes?” They
inched forward.
Soon, they were far enough out that the waves were breaking
and splashing to Cooper’s waist. Through it all, he held tightly to his papa’s
hand. Over time, an even braver child ventured farther and deeper into the
waves.
He trusted the hand that held him.
Jonas’ eyes misted as he watched
his little buddy, reminding him of his own relationship with God. Many times,
he’d been afraid as the waves of life crashed into him, seemingly high above his
head. He’d hovered in fear, scared to take the first few steps toward something
God had called him to do.
But just like Cooper, all he had to do was to hold onto the
Hand that would never cut him loose, that would never let anything happen to
him that was not His will.
That first step is important.
If you wait until you feel like taking that first step, it
might not happen for a long time; maybe not at all. You just have to move
forward in faith. His Hand is always extended.
