A bottle full of water and a story that changed my life. A lifetime of laughter and sweet smiles all in a simple afternoon.
It started out seeing two school boys tossing some water from their bottles at each other. Quickly joining being ambushed by about 10 children all running to find the nearest water bottle. Meanwhile I stand defenseless while 2 Liter coke bottles full of water are being thrown all over me. Soon, my pal Kyla joins in and there is water coming in all directions from at least 25 children, Andrew is having a nice conversation with a woman a few feet down the road so he offers his water bottle up to me as my new weapon of choice. Time after time we run to the faucet and fill our bottles full of tap water and pouring it all over each other. This is the literal definition of “soaking in the fun”.
We all got chilly so I decided we should warm up by singing the hokie pokie. Kyla and I taught the kids and we all started singing and dancing. Good for the soul if ya ask me!
One of our ministry hosts came over to me and suggested I tell a bible story while I have a large group of kids around me. So I’m racking my brain while trying to keep the kids engaged and I decide on the story of Simon Peter and Jesus when Jesus asks him to cast down his nets in the water. If any of you guys have EVER met me you would know that I’m shy and timid especially in large groups but wow has the Holy Spirit been wrecking that box I put myself in. I start telling the story using Kyla as Simon Peter and Andrew as Jesus. The kids seem interested but I know that will fade if you don’t make the story engaging so I’m breaking down my own walls of shyness by yelling and asking interactive questions, I’m jumping around and moving all over. I’m way out of my comfort zone. I’m telling a story about how Jesus asked a fisherman to cast his nets after a long day of catching NO fish and here I am casting my net in a sea that may have no fish but I’m trusting Jesus will do what He has always planned for this moment.
It’s real convicting how I can doubt the gifts I have been given by telling Jesus no I already cast my nets and nothing came out. I may not ever see if those children come to Christ but one thing I know is that God did not make me silent, He created me to scream His glory and trust that He did not make me timid. He created me to cast down my nets and trust He’ll do the rest. Thanks God for a simple water fight and a story that changed my life.
