Get In The Boat

“I’m not going.”

My son’s mind was made up and his jaw was set.

We had just pulled up at the boat ramp where we were meeting our guide for the afternoon fishing trip I’d planned as a surprise for my boys.

They were both upset a few weeks before when we’d had to cancel because of bad weather. We could probably have handled cold and wet, but when Bob Maindelle of Holding the Line Guide Service said the fish don’t bite under those conditions, I knew we were sunk.

This time I decided not to tell them about the trip ahead of time to avoid the disappointment of canceling a second time.

When we parked at the secret destination and the guide approached our car, my seven year old refused to get out. And I wanted to hide. This man was volunteering to take my boys and I fishing because our Soldier is deployed. He does it for anybody in the area who’s loved ones are away on military duty - it is a program called Soldiers Kids Involved in Fishing Fun (SKIFF).

And right there beside Belton Lake this man’s selfless service starred right in the face of my son’s stubbornness.

He was kicking and screaming at me and climbing over the seats to avoid my reach.
Not my finest mommy moment.

I can’t tell you whether it was a threat or a bribe that finally coaxed him from the car into the boat.

Bless his heart, Bob seemed to simply ignore my son’s insolence, as we pushed back away from the ramp.
When the digital finder identified a large group of fish below us, he handed both boys a baited pole and gave them some instruction on how to lure the fish in under these conditions. In less than five minutes, my boys were pulling fish after fish into the boat.
And grinning from ear to ear.

Both of them.

My boys and Bob caught a combined 101 fish that day. My reluctant fisherman even reeled in a fish that broke the lake record and qualified for a Texas State largest of species certificate.

He went from kicking and screaming to blessed and beaming!

All because he decided to be obedient.

I still don’t know why he initially refused to get in the boat that day. Maybe it reminded him of fishing with his Daddy and that made him miss him even more. Perhaps the cloudy and drizzling weather looked unappealing or previous unsuccessful trips caused him to doubt his fishing prowess.

But I do know sadness, fears, unappealing conditions, and doubts have kept me from stepping out into appointments God has planned for me. I've been kicking and screaming and refusing to participate in His plans more times than I'd like to admit. I’ll never know what blessings I’ve squandered by my failure to cooperate.

Trusting God more than our doubts and fears fills us with confident obedience to go where He calls.

Are you kicking and screaming against some opportunity God has prepared for you? Consider for a moment the possibility of an immeasurable blessing He has planned for you? What’s it going to take to get you into the boat?

Word of the Day: "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58

Prayer: Dear Father, forgive me for all the opportunities I missed by kicking and screaming and refusing to obey Your plans for me. Strengthen my faith in You so that doubts, fears, sadness, or less than ideal conditions would no longer keep me from your appointments. Help me to step out in confident obedience to all You call me to do. Amen.

Author:  Liz Giertz

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