Lifeguard

I am a swim coach. I teach kids from the ages of 8 months to 15 years old. A lot of the kids can swim and we just work on technique but some of the children can’t. Their life is literally in my hands. As I tread in the deep end their little legs wrap tightly around my thigh. “Miss Emily, PLEASE don’t let me go!”

It takes a lot of trust for those little ones to allow me to hold them.

Even though they know that they cannot swim or touch the ground, some of my students try to be independent too quickly.

Instead of waiting on the step for her turn, she slowly steps down to the next step. The water getting closer to her mouth, yet she is fearless. She is creeping up on the edge of safety. I check over my shoulder and see that she is almost prematurely independent. I take 6 steps, landing right behind her. As she realizes that she over estimated herself and starts to panic, my arm slides under her body before water gets in her nose.

“I’m sorry Miss Emily! I’ll sit still till my turn, I'm sorry!”

Sometimes- I am that student.

I think I know what is best for me and I try to trick God while He isn’t looking. As I slide down the steps and fear consumes me I feel His hand gently secure me.

Sometimes we think we can jump into the deep end when really we don’t even know how to breathe on our own.