Fish

We just got back from a wonderful week long vacation at the beach.  Our rental home sits right on the sound and our house has a dock with direct water access.  The kids had all sorts of fun swimming, kayaking, and their all time favorite activity: fishing.  Last year we stayed in the same house and we caught nothing.  This year the kids were adamant that they would catch a fish.  They begged to go fishing the minute we arrived, but it took a us another day to actually wrangle some bait appropriate for salt water fish.  M. was certain they would be happy to eat bagels.

Armed with some shrimp we headed down to the dock to give it a shot.  The boys each took a turn with no success.  It seemed we might not be successful this year either.  Then little T. wanted to try.  I laughed and said, "Watch she's going to catch one on her first shot!"  Sure enough, with Ricardo's help, T. reeled in a little fish!  The kids were jumping up and down cheering.  With more confidence, M. went up to the plate and to my surprise caught one too.  Each child proudly posed with their fish before we let it go.  Finally it was J.s turn again.  At first he expected to catch a fish right away, but try after try he reeled in nothing.  He began to get frustrated and announce that he wanted to give up, that he would be the only one who ended up catching nothing.  We encouraged him, but also suggested if he didn't get one, that he be happy for his brother and sister (yeah right).

Finally there was only one small piece of shrimp left.  This was his last chance.  Struggling with my own faith lately I mustered up something in myself to pray out loud.  "Jesus, this is our last chance.  Please help J. catch a fish."  As he cast his line into the water I tried hard not to doubt.  I wanted to believe God would come through.  What little faith I had.  But sure enough J. felt a bite and swiftly reeled in his line, pulling up a small gleaming fish!  Standing on the dock my mom shouted, "I can't believe it!  On the last piece of bait!"  J. beamed with pride.  We snapped pictures, clapped, and then reminded him that God had answered our prayer.  He waited until the last second to do it, but He did.  Hmmm... parallel even greater things in life?  God always comes through, but sometimes not until there is nothing left to rely on but Him.  A message most wholeheartedly needed for where I am right now in life, waiting for God to send me a fish.

"Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”“No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish."  John 21:4-6 NIV