Learning to Swim

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him…Jeremiah 17:7

When I was a little girl, I spent two weeks at Girl Scout Camp.  Part of our morning schedule included riding a school bus to a large swimming pool that was on the campgrounds!

I remember jumping in…yes, in the deep end…quickly realizing that I did not know how to swim!  With my arms thrashing wildly…feet kicking frantically…I bobbed up and down under water numerous times before I finally made it to the edge of the pool. 

White knuckles gripped the side of the pool as I coughed and sputtered out all of the water that I had just inhaled!

Clinging to the side with a vise-like grip, I was determined not to let go of the edge of the pool!

However, my swim instructor had other plans for me and eventually persuaded me to loosen my grip and gently guided me to the shallow end of the pool where she could officially begin my first swim lesson!

Hesitantly, I followed the swim instructor’s instructions.  Taking it slowly, we learned to go under water…float on our tummies…float on our backs…swim underwater…and I even learned numerous strokes to help me swim on top of the water. 

As my confidence increased, I began to enjoy the water again!  By the end of the two weeks, I was swimming in the deep end…confident of all that I had learned.

Last night, I had the privilege of watching Graham at his swim lesson!

He looked so tiny in the large pool, but he stood confidently on the side of the pool as he waited for his swim instructor to direct him in what he should do.

When it was time for Graham to jump in, he immediately plunged into the water without hesitation!

He knew his teacher was there…ready to catch him and lead him back to the edge of the pool!

Graham patiently waited each time his teacher worked with the other little boy in his group.

However, his parents shared with me that Graham had encountered a similar pool experience to mine. 

The week before, Graham had let go of the edge of the pool and immediately learned how quickly the water rushed over your head!

I’m not sure if the experience itself frightened him…or if it was the look of terror that he viewed on his precious mama’s face as she quickly grasped the situation and his need for immediate assistance! 

I’m happy to say that he didn’t let go of the edge of the pool one time last night!  And I’m also happy to say his underwater experience did not discourage him from tackling each swim exercise that his teacher instructed him to do with much enthusiasm.

It was a joy to watch Graham complete several tasks, which included going underwater numerous times…floating on his tummy and back (with assistance)…and kicking his feet as his teacher gently guided him through the water!

And when the opportunity presented itself for him to jump from the edge of the pool into the water again, he embraced this task with complete abandonment!

As Graham and I were taught to swim at a young age, we learned to trust our swim instructors, placing our confidence in them to guide and lead us through each swimming exercise.

Though there are many individuals in our lives that we can turn to for instruction and guidance, there is only One who we should place our complete trust in. 

God’s word states…“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him”…Jeremiah 17:7.

God desires each of us to place our complete trust in Him.  Regardless of what we are walking through in life, we can trust Him…the One who loves us more than we can even imagine!

For those who trust in Him, God’s word further states…”They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit”…Jeremiah 17:8.

God tells us not to worry…not to fear…He is with us…taking care of us and meeting our needs.  We just need to place our trust in Him…confidently believing that God is with us!

I am so thankful for the swim instructor that taught me how to swim many, many summers ago, and I am thankful for the swim instructor that worked with Graham this week.

However, I am even more thankful for a loving Father that desires me to place my trust in Him…knowing that HE will guide me and lead me each and every day!

Dear Heavenly Father…I am so blessed to know that I can place my trust in you!  I am so thankful that there is no need for me to worry or to fear…for you are with me!  I pray for those who do not know you…that they too shall come to know of your love…desiring to place their trust in you as well!!