Speed Boats - Part 2

Continued...

As we looked at the speed boats from afar, Austin had trouble containing his excitement. "Look at those boats, dad!" He exclaimed with pure joy. As James filled out the paperwork, Austin ran over to the life vests. "Mom, hurry, I need a life jacket!" He yelled.



With life vests safely buckled, Austin walked up to the speed boat instructor. "Do these boats go fast or slow?" He asked with all seriousness. "Um..." I could tell that the instructor was hesitating. "Both." (Safe answer, instructor man. Safe answer.)



Austin, however, was not done with his questioning. "Are these boats loud or soft?" And before the instructor man could give another safe answer to my son, "Mr. Start the engines of the speed boats" decided to show off a little and rev the engines for the small speed boat my son would be riding.

(Not a good response, "Mr. Start the engines of the speed boat man." Not a good response at all.)

After hearing the roar of the engine, Austin decided that speed boat riding was no longer for him. He burst into tears and ran up the boat ramp back towards my arms. "I Don't Want To Ride Those Boats Anymore!" He stated firmly. "I don't want to ride!"

"It's okay, Austin." James and I both tried to explain. "You don't have to go fast. Daddy is a safe driver. If you don't like it you can come right back."

Austin just stood there crying. "I don't want to go!"

I looked at James. "I know that he is going to love it if he will just go." I sadly replied. "He is going to have so much fun. How do we convince him that it's okay?"

We finally convinced Austin to just sit in the boat - then, just take a picture in the boat, then, just feel what it is like to go slow in the boat.



Before he knew it, James floated away from the boat dock and out into the lake. Austin looked up with huge tear filled eyes. "Daddy, this isn't bad at all!" He exclaimed.

As they finished their tour of the lake and came back to the dock, I saw Austin grinning from ear to ear. "Mom, I saw the D*sney Castle, and we went by a hotel, and we went out and saw other boats, and we went over a wake, and we went bump, bump, bump, and it was so much fun."



As we took off our life vests, Austin looked at me, "Mom, can we do that again sometime?"

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I feel like I have been introduced to the speed boats this year. I have been presented with some life issues and my first response is to ask God. "Okay, Lord, is this ride going to be fast (scary) or slow and calm?"

And I know his response. "Both."

I find out news and I want to know all the answers. I want to be assured of my safety before making any decisions about joining in on this ride. Suddenly in the background, I hear the roar of the engine, and I suddenly realize that the ride is going to be loud. Scary at times. Wild. Not even necessarily safe.

"I don't want to ride anymore!" I cry - and I try to run back to the safety of what life used to look like.

And I know his response. "You are going to understand after you finish the ride. You are going to see beautiful sights, but you have to step on in order to ride. You have to trust me. I know what is best for you. I want you to enjoy this journey of life - I want you to live life to the full. At times it will be rough and at other times smooth. But you will come back to the dock - someday - with understanding.

At this moment, right now, I am just stepping into the boat. Trusting the driver.