Canoe Trip

My family and I went on a canoe trip today. The oldest child and I in one boat and my husband and youngest child in another. We started out slowly. When the oldest and I began paddling had some trouble steering and ran onto some logs. I told her sometimes we don't go in the direction God tells us and We get stuck. We often have to turn around and start over. She totally 'got' it. She said "Oh it's just like choices?" I was very proud right then. We had quite a bit of trouble. When we got to a really low place the guide helped us over. How many times to we have 'helpers' that come from God? Someone that may not even know how bad it is for you but they help without even knowing it. Maybe those people help and we never say thank you.

We rowed a while longer and then came to a deeper more open area. It was much easier to row there. Sometimes God gives us 'open' areas where we have more room to row and relax. After we had explored the open areas a bit we had to go back into the difficult areas. By this time my youngest child, age 6, had gotten into my boat and the 8 year old had gotten into her fathers boat.

The six year old and I got separated from the group and got lost. There were many VERY hard areas then. Lots and lots of stumps. When we get too far from God the road gets much rougher. It is hard for us to trust Him when that happens in life. We try to rely on our own strength and not His. When the guide came and found us he told us the right way to go and while we were rowing back there a limb caught us and dumped the entire boat. She and I were wet, muddy, and stinky. The guide helped us empty our boat and tip it back over. He held it steady while we got back in.

When we pray God helps us empty our personal 'boat' and tip it back over. He holds it steady while we get back in and get back on track. We may be wet and stinky but He loves us anyway. My daughter told me then that "It's okay if we fall out again momma, we are already wet." My daughters innocent remark helps me realize that no matter how many times we 'fall out' God is still there to tip us back over. After getting back on course I rowed until my arms were worn out. The guide came and asked if I was ready for a break and helped us over a long low spot. Is God asking you if you need a break? Do you need to let Him push you over a low spot? Needless to say by the time we got back to shore I was ready to be done. Moral? Let go and let God!