My grandchildren stand at the water’s edge watching small shells disappear into the surf washed sand, and  yell into the wind as if it was how you joined the choir of the universe.

 

Waves bigger than life pound at their feet, but there is no fear as long as Granddaddy is holding them.

 

They don’t know about flesh-eating bacteria, or great white sharks, or how to watch for anything that might steal life from someone you love.  Fear is foreign to them – a language they are learning, but do not yet not speak well.  Mostly, they know the joy of discovery and play.

 

Waves pounding the shore are a means to jump higher, and not anchors to pull you under.  Salty water is fun to lick from your lips, and they never fear that it might invade their lungs.

 

Their mother and I stand far enough to allow them a sporty adventure, and close enough to pick them up should the adventure make sport of them.

 

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Their souls live free because they trust us.

 

They don’t look before they cross the street,and they run unafraid into the crashing waves.  No wave can turn them away, even though it is bigger than them, because they trust the one who holds them in his hands.  There is no preparation, because they know they are cared for.

 

Sometimes, when we fear, we build bridges we will never cross.

 

 

We grow older; and, we hear news of tragedy; and, we build walls to protect ourselves and our family. We build as if salvation, protection and provision are ours alone to fight and achieve. We waste energy and precious time trying to hide from danger and fear, instead of facing it, knowing we are held in God’s right hand.

 

The truth is, we sacrifice our freedom on the altar to fear when we measure the size of the waves instead of the size of His hands.

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 It is in God’s hands we find our freedom from fear by the work done on the Cross of Christ.

When we measure the waves by the size of our hands fear will always have the upper hand.  It’s when we begin to measure the waves by the Word then we discover that their impact was little more than a ripple in the water and not a huge wave after all.

 

I marvel at our little ones in the waves and wonder when I lost part of my freedom.  When did worry become more important than wonder?  And, I wonder if I can go back to the days of laughter and light-hearted joy.

 

I step into the cool of the water’s edge all the way up to my waist, and I begin to allow the waves to push me higher.

 

“But Jesus said, ‘Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” Matthew 19:14

How do you keep play in your life?  Where do you have child-like faith?

Linking with Laura, Holley, Kelli, Jennifer, and Emily

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Diane W. Bailey is the founder of The Consilium – an online community of wisdom and purpose for women over 45 years of age. She is a published author. Her books include String of Pearls – From Tears to Treasure, and 30 Days To A Better Stepfamily. She creates her own line of precious metals bracelets. Diane lives in the Deep South with her husband Doc. Together they have created a stepfamily, each having two stepchildren and two birth children, and share three grandchildren, one black lab named Charlie and one long haired tabby cat named Lil Girl. Diane’s passion is to encourage women to be all God has created them to be by pressing past fear and daring to live life as an adventure. Some of her life adventures include traveling to Israel, speaking, entrepreneurship and backyard farming with Doc. She loves Gumbo, fried shrimp and seeing all sunsets across water.

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