Mommy Blog

Swim Lessons

in Thoughtful Thursdays on April 6, 2022

Do you know how to swim?

I do.

I learned in my grandparents’ backyard swimming pool in Southern Florida. I was four.

Back in the day, swimming lessons looked a little bit different than they do now. For many of today’s kiddos, swimming lessons actually resemble lessons. There are classes in a facility with real-live instructors. In the eighties, that scenario was virtually unheard of.

We learned to navigate swimming pool waters by the very literal “Sink or Swim” method. I was haphazardly and unceremoniously tossed into my grandparents’ pool; the sound of my grandfather’s voice encouraging me to, “Get to the side. Kick. Paddle. And, don’t drink my pool water.”

Thanks, Gramps. Totally helpful.

It was years later that I found out my swimming instructor COULD NOT SWIM. Seriously? Who throws a kid into a body of water with no real action plan as to how to extract said kid?! Well, parents and grandparents of the eighties. That’s who.

Is it any wonder that Gen Xers are built differently?

So, why am I telling you this?

I attended my church’s annual ladies retreat last weekend. No, we didn’t throw any of our ladies into the lake, but we did sing a song that reminded me of just how big and powerful our God is.

The account of the Exodus of the Israelites from the captivity of the Egyptians, has long been the focal point of contention. Did God really turn a raging Red Sea into a massive five-lane highway, so that His people could cross over safely, while the Egyptian army in its entirety, was wiped off the face of the earth?

The short answer is: Yes.

You can read about the parting of the Red Sea in the book of Exodus, chapter fourteen, and I highly encourage you to do so. But, in the meantime, allow me to summarize.

The Bible is truly a miraculous thing. Christians believe (with gusto) that the Bible IS the inspired Word of God, which means, God revealed Himself to ordinary people and they, in turn wrote everything down. However, that isn’t exactly the full miracle. No, the miracle is ALL THE TRANSLATING and the COUNTLESS SETS OF EYES AND HANDS that were involved in getting the book that we have today. Every artifact, every scroll HAD to say the same thing. Do you know how hard that was? Think of the “telephone game” from when we were kids. The original phrase was never the final phrase that was told to the group. But, with the Bible, it absolutely is. That also means, that not one word is wasted, so if a phrase, an account, or even a name is repeated more than once—that is a topic of great importance, and we need to pay extra special attention.

In Exodus chapter fourteen, we have a perfect example of that.

“…The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.” Exodus 14:22 (emphasis added).

“But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left” Exodus 14:29 (emphasis added).

“By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up. The surging waters stood firm like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea” Exodus 15:8 (emphasis added).

There are nearly thirty other accounts in the Bible that reference the parting and damming up of the Red Sea.

For being the instruction manual for life, the Bible doesn’t have that big of a word count, so repeating words and phrases alerts us to the utter importance of those accounts.

The Israelites were God’s own chosen people; yet they were enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. They endured unimaginable hardships during their captivity and estrangement from God. Even though God was silent during those years, He was always close at hand. He had everything under control. His people couldn’t see the plan or even realize that there was a plan. But, God’s hand was over it all.

What does the parting of the Red Sea and my barbaric swimming lessons of the eighties have in common?

Both the Israelites and myself could not see the bigger picture. Neither of us seemed to really trust anything greater than ourselves.

Where are you today?

Are you feeling as though you are being held captive in a foreign land? Are you feeling lost and alone? Do you feel as though you’ve been thrown into the deep end of the pool or a raging sea with no life preserver?

I have Good News for you.

God has a plan, and you are firmly secure in His grip.

Take a deep breath, and try to see past your circumstances. God might be taking you through rough waters because your enemies cannot swim.

Oh, and for the record, my grandmother (who not only could swim, but doubled as a fluffy flotation device) was always nearby in case I needed help.

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week; The week leading up to Easter. If you do not have a home church, I gladly welcome you to mine. I also encourage EVERYONE to attend a Good Friday Tenebrae service; a service of progressing darkness. It is the most powerful service of the church year…in my opinion.

Be blessed this week!