Yesterday I sat at the edge of the pool, beside my littlest baby girl who was trying to jump in to her dad who was down in the water, not many feet away. She would squat down and stand back up over and over. She would count to 3, then to 10, then to 3 again… Trying to encourage her, we’d say, “Jump!” and “You can do it!” and “Daddy will catch you!” Finally after great indecision she would fly into Michael’s arms in the water.
all of this drama brought a memory to mind…
When I was five, during the winter of my kindergarten year, I took swimming lessons. In fact, the YMCA was at the other end of the parking lot, behind my school. So, my whole class enjoyed swimming instruction together.
Parents could come and watch from the observation deck, while all of us little five year olds were down in the pool below.
I remember just a few things about the lessons at the Y. We put our faces in the water. We made bubbles with our lips. We held onto the edge and kicked our legs. We plugged our noses and ducked our heads under water. We played. We floated on our backs. We floated on our bellies. However, I do have one particular event etched in my memory.
Our swim instructor had us all line up along the edge of the pool. One by one we were each supposed to hold onto a fireman pole and slide down into the water with the help of our teacher. Then, move to the ladder, climb out and walk to the back of the line. As the activity moved along, and my place in line moved forward, every time I was one or two places from actually grabbing that pole, I would tiptoe to the back of the line. I don’t remember if they caught me, or how it all played out. But I do know, I was too afraid and I never actually did it.
These scenarios are comparable to my life now. Jesus offers opportunities to follow Him regularly. He presents new ways to grow and become more like Him; simple steps to walking closer with Him. I can recount a few situations where when it was almost my turn to jump in the deep end with Him and take Him seriously… what did I do? Fearful, I ran to the back of the line and waited for a few others to follow first.
Maybe next time…
In the last chapter of John, after a miraculous breakfast on the beach, Jesus asks Peter several times if he loves Him. Obviously Peter has a past that is shady (-as do we all, so I’m not judging in any way-) But, Jesus clearly feels the need to ask him three times. Of course Peter affirms his love for Jesus. Each time Jesus tells Peter that if he truly does love Him, he should feed His lambs.
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
Every time I read this account I’m aware of something. Peter missed the first chance to jump in- he made some mistakes. But here, in the last moments before Jesus ascends to Heaven, Peter gets another chance. And we can see by His testimony thru the rest of Scripture, he takes it!
Oh man! I’ve made so many mistakes, and I’ve missed opportunities. I can’t really compare myself to Peter or say that someday be a follower of his caliber. It is very unlikely. But I am so relieved to know that I serve a loving and merciful God who continues to call me, with outstretched arms, saying, “Jump in! You can do it! I’ll catch you!”
daily portion 