SUZY PARISH
Hope blooms in unexpected places
Stand
A father walked with his young son on the beach. An approaching storm churned the ocean mossy green.
The two plowed into the waves, laughing and jumping over them until at last they stood shoulder deep in the briny water.
When the next wave came, the father called to his son over the roar.
“Drop into the sea and let the wave take you in.”
The boy did as he was told, and the current took him far up the shore.When he had made his way back the father asked the boy,
“Were you able to make headway against the current?”
The boy gazed down into the waters, as if to stare at his feet.
“It took me farther than I wanted to go.”
The father said,
“Stand still now, hold my hand and face the next wave.”
The boy’s forehead wrinkled in fear.
“It’ll sting when it hits me.”
“That it will,” the father said,
“But you must lean into the pain, and in doing so, you will stand.”
A gray, foaming curl of water closed upon them.
The boy wanted to swim with the wave, but he did as the father instructed.
He planted both feet, teeth outlined beneath thin lips, and leaned toward the coming wall of water.
A sharp slap of saltwater nearly knocked him to his knees, but when the wave had passed over them, the boy emerged.
Slinging wet hair and wiping water from his eyes, he turned a freckled face toward the father.
The father slipped his hand to the back of the boy to steady him as the froth rolled shoreward.
“Did it hurt?”
The boy curled pruny fingers into his father’s palm.
“Like the wind was knocked out of me.”
The father bent and studied his son’s face.
“But see, the wave has moved past, and you still stand. You will encounter many waves of pain in life my son. I wish it were not so, but it is true.If you give in, they will take you where you do not wish to go, but if you take my hand and step into the pain, you will stand.”~Suzy Parish
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”Ephesians 6:13
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”Ephesians 6:13
Great analogy! I love it.
Awesome. And I LOVE the picture of you! š
Thank you Tammy and Melanie!
Words escape me. ;)Look what you've done. LOLGreat job, Suzy.Ginger
Thank you Ginger! You are very gracious!