Noting she was in the lane closest to the side of the pool and with only one other child it was obvious Sophia was a true beginner. The rest of her swim class practiced in the middle lane. Instructed by her coach to swim the lane Sophia took off like a rocket and reached the end before her swim partner. I was understandable quite proud.
Next they were instructed to swim back and forth again and again. But Sophia was struggling , and as I watched her I begin to text my daughter
"and she is doing this why?"
"This is nothing less then child abuse"
"She is swimming frantically and going no where"
"no hanging on the ropes allowed"
"she is now gasping for air and hanging on to the sides of the pool"
"she is not Esther Williams"
Somehow WE survived the forty-five long minutes. I understand a child needing to learn to swim, but this seemed grueling, and not fun. Sophia however seemed unfazed by her lack luster performance.
Now the story goes, as I was not there to witness many other lessons, that her attitude was "not good". In her practice drills for up coming races, she would cry and cry. Protesting she could not do it and would cling to her Father.
And it was said after much coaxing from her coach she would enter the water and swim aways before again clinging to the side of the pool crying " I can't do it". All the other children having finished, and she would be alone in the pool crying , still clinging to the sides.
Her Father always standing at the end of the lane cheering "You can do it Sophia, yes you can just keep going your almost there". Soon everyone would join in, cheering her on "Come on Sophia you can do it". Eventually Sophia would make it to the end, with lots of fanfare and clapping..
Sophia continued her lessons, still protesting before each lesson " I Can't do It".
Fast Forward Two Months;
One day I received a phone call " Hi Mame, I won first place in the backstroke, and second in the breaststroke." You can only imagine my shock. But indeed her mother confirmed that Sophia had won those spots in her swimming match's competing against the entire squad.
So how did Sophia finish her races? Obviously, Sophia lacked confidence, she was afraid. But something in that small child gave her the strength to swim to end of the lane, to finish the race. And to win. Was it her Father encouraging her on? Her swim mates cheering her on?
Somewhere within her was a determination to please her Father and to know at the end of the lane was safety in him. And as she practiced she overcame her fears, she saw that she could do what she thought impossible. The long lane became less of an obstacle as she determined that the glory was in pleasing her Father, her team mates and to WIN.
"Therefore since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off ever thing that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us". Hebrews 12:1 (NIV). "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race,I have kept the faith". 2Tim 4:7 (NIV)
The race that we as Christians run every day is fraught with obstacles. Like little Sophia we sometimes cry out "I can't do it". We too cling to earthly things fearful of letting go of that which is familiar to us. Swimming in one spot, clinging to the ropes afraid to let go and swim forward to the one waiting for us at the end of our race.
We can "do everything through him who gives us strength." Phil4:13(NIV). We too can finish our race, knowing that our Abba is waiting for us.
Oh, but to hear ..."Well done good and faithful servant". Matt 25:21 (NIV)
Do I hear an Amen.
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