Sharing my faith and convictions can sometimes get discouraging. Not everyone is going to share the same mindset or come to the same conclusions in life. Yet God gently reminded me that everyone is going to be held accountable for there own choice. I cannot make that choice for them. This personal choice cannot be forced but lovingly and patiently shared. I’ve always struggled to grasp this concept, but God really sent the message home when my son struggled to get in the pool.

Gripped to my husband’s body, Timmy shakes at the thought of the 1.5′ pool. I felt helpless, as no amount of coaxing would elicit the trust needed to come into the water. Avoiding the water at two years old is not a bad thing.  It definitely is not detrimental to his health, but from a mothers perspective, it was just hard to watch panic control your child’s emotions. He would have climbed a ten foot tree to get away from the water. We knew that once he got into the water he would love it, and he would be able to participate with his friends joy.  Currently he was not ready yet. His fear overtook any joy that the pool would have brought.

For now he preferred the sidelines. The ants apparently were better company for him at the moment. We would occasionally let him test the waters, to see if he was ready. Once in a while he would let down his guard and start to enjoy himself. Unfortunately, as quickly as that joy came, it wasn’t long before it left. The realization that he was in the water was too much.

Finally, the eleventh hour, a fellow friend gently guides him to the edge she starts jumping into my arms with excitement. This appeals to Tim. He leaps. I catch him. He repeats with glee. He had to make the personal choice. What was different about today? He was ready to trust.

Loving others enough to consistently and patiently share with them Jesus’ love takes endurance. It is not for the faint at heart. Our responsibility is to be obedient, we have to leave the rest to God. The hope is that one day we will be able to celebrate with them when they take the leap of faith into the loving embrace of Jesus and experience the peace only He can give.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9