"Jump!"

"JUMP!!"  I yell at her tying to encourage her to take that big step.

Her hesitation is obvious as she stands in her hot pink ballerina swimsuit on the side of the pool.  The sun beats down on us, and she just stands arms outstretched.

"Jump!" She wiggles and squirms, arms outstretched   She wants so badly to jump in, but she wants my hands.  You can tell she doesn't want to try it alone.  She is nervous.  She isn't sure if I will really be there.  

She doesn't really understand the potential dangers of the water.  She doesn't really know how deep, or really very shallow, it is.  She doesn't know the inherent safety of the ever-present lifeguard or the ocean-safe life vest I make her wear every time she is within a 1/4 mile of a pool.

All she knows is that she doesn't want to jump without Momma's hands.

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I think about how many times in my life I have jumped willy-nilly into the waters, not really knowing what lay ahead.

Not a risk-taker by nature, the big dives seem few and far between, but on closer introspection, I see little daily dives that intrigue me.  And yet... I have the comfort of the everlasting arms of the Lord.  I know they are there... standing with me in the shallow water, watching me from the lifeguard stand, holding onto the grab loop of my life vest without me even knowing.

Lord, help me to "Jump" into the tasks I have before me today... secure in your always and forever, never-ending, never-giving up love.

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NOTE:  I recently came across Lisa-Jo Baker's blog that encourages "Five Minute Friday."  She tosses out a word and bloggers all over the map sit at their computers and write for five minutes on that word. (This week's word was "Jump!") It captured my attention and challenged me.  This is the first time I have tried it.  I am hoping it will help me to be more consistent about capturing thoughts and expressing them in writing.  Yes, I know it is Monday.  Yes, it took me closer to 15 minutes to write this and another five by the time I post it... but I think that I am worth it.  And deep in my heart, I hear my Father calling "Jump! Jump!! JUMP!!!"