~~ Waves. A continuous flow of noisy white surf crashing upon the shore. Sand. That gritty stuff that is always in your swimsuit, who's foundation isn't stable and could sink away any second. Then there's the sea creatures. Jelly fish. Crabs. Every kid loves running through the ocean until they encounter one of these animals.
~~ There was a young boy once, who's father took him to the beach. They built a big sand castle at the edge of the water, and then stood by and watched on as the tide broke it down and carried it away. What was left, was a smooth patch of sand, so they began again. They detailed the turrets, carved out doors, and yet again watched the tide break it down and carry it away. The young boy got tired of watching their masterpiece be swept away. The father explained to him though that each time the tide comes, they have a chance to build another castle bigger and better than before. The boy still didn't understand, so the father gave up trying to explain it and instead brought him toward the ocean.
~~ Standing at the edge of the ocean, the boy threw a chunk of sand at it for tearing away his sand castle. As he reached back to throw another chunk, his father grabbed his fist and opened his hand till the sand slid out. Then he silently lead the child into the ocean. The waves crashed down around them, and the boy was frightened. But the kind father held his hand the whole time. Once the boy seemed to have a solid footing against the waves, the father let go of his hand and stood behind him. A few waves came and the boy was fine. He ventured out farther because of his confidence in himself, and soon a wave crashed over his body and swept him under. His father however, was right behind him and grabbed his waist as he floated by. Smiling and laughing at the circumstance.
~~ And so the pattern began. The boy would walk out to the bigger waves, then be swept underneath and lifted back up by the father. Once however, the boy told his father to stand off to the side. He was positive that he would make it through the next wave on his own. As a wave crashed down and the boy was swept under, he panicked when those strong arms didn't lift him back up. As much as it hurt the father to watch his child thrashing under the water, he let him go to see how he would react. The boy finally found a footing on the soft sand and stood up. His throat was burning from the salt water rushing into his mouth, and he had tears streaming down his face. He glared at his father and left the water to go get a drink and sit down in the sand.
~~ The father approached, but the boy crossed his arms and turned his back.. tears still pouring down his face. However, the father still sat down beside him and put a hand on his shoulder, patiently waiting for the boy to turn towards him and curl up against his strong arm. When he finally did, the father explained that sometimes in life we have to go through things on our own. We won't always have someone right there to help us through things. But he told him that just like he stood off to the side to make sure his son was alright, we always have a Father in heaven that is watching us, and doesn't want anything bad to happen to us. Each circumstance in life however, is ordained by God. So just as the boy realized that he still needed his father to get through the ocean, each of us still need God to walk with us through life. Don't push Him aside.
