We tried to warn my grandson.
"Be careful...you're leaning too far over the edge..."
He started by just peering over the canoe to see into the lake. Leaned just a little farther over to see better. "Watch it buddy, get back in your seat please!" No deal. He reached all the way over to actually touch the water...it was irresistible.
Sploosh! Wet, surprised, frightened. Floating on his back, it took a few seconds before he started to cry. What he did not fully realize, how could he - was that Grandpa was already attending to his rescue. Love hadn't lost sight of him. "Don't worry buddy, Grandpa's right here. We'll get you out of there in a jiffy." With a few paddle strokes and a yank on his life vest we did!
Lots of soothing words. "You're safe now. Grandpa's got you. We'll get you dried off and into a warm bath."
Soon after the quick paddle back to our cabin, the little guy began to process what had happened. He looked at me and made an arcing motion with his little hand...fell in the lake. Yup. "Bapa," he said, pointing at me with wide eyes and a lifting motion to credit my role in his rescue.
I smiled. "That's about the size of it. You fell in, Grandpa was right there, you're fine now." Rescue. Reassurance. And sometime later, when he was dry and ready to go back outside, his mother and I sat him down to say, "That's why we wear our life vest and listen to Grandpa's instructions about sitting safely inside the canoe, understand?" Again the arcing hand motion.. “Bapa,” he nodded. I think he understood. For now. We'll see if it ever happens again!
Isn't that how we all test limits in our lives? Look, lean...reach over the edge and sometimes get soaked? God has given us moral limits and unbounded freedom to choose. It's not to "control" us into sitting rigidly in one place. It's because we're never more than a few temptations away from splooshing into the lake.
“God shows his love in this, that while we were yet sinning, He saved us.” Romans 5:8
God sees sin coming. “Be careful, you’re leaning over the edge…” That’s why we have a conscience. That’s why Jesus was so specific in the Gospels. But through it all, God loves us like a Grandpa loves his wayward Grandson, no matter what.
Bonus: God offers full forgiveness through repentance and faith in Jesus. Not just “another chance” (stay in your seat next time!), but as though our sin never occurred,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Bapa loves you, Grandson, no matter what. Let’s get back in the canoe.
What do you believe ?
1 comment:
Children understand so well.
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