Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is in the LORD. Jeremiah 17:7 NKJV
I, for one, am thankful for my upbringing. Church was an important factor in my family. Sunday school, worship am service, BTS (it’s a Missionary Baptist thing!), worship pm service, fellowships, Wednesday night Bible study, and Vacation Bible School. If the doors were opened, we were there!
Did I like it? No. It was right up there with practicing the piano.
Did I try to get out of it? Yeah. I succeeded once when I had an ear infection. I was made to stay home to practice the piano!
In addition to church, my parents had a love of southern gospel music. In the tapedeck, there was a certain cassette tape that was always present. It was The Cathedral’s “Live from Atlanta.” I didn’t know why it was always there until years later.
The first song on the album was “You Can Walk on Water.” It’s a great song. but it will mess with a child’s mind! The song insisted that you can walk on the water as long as you keep your eyes on Him.
WRONG!
I walked home that afternoon with soggy shoes, having been educated in the meaning of metaphors.
Did Peter walk on water?
Yes.
Did Leslie?
No.
It wasn’t that I didn’t have the faith of Peter. My intention and needs were not the same. God didn’t need to deliver me from the summer breeze or the shallow creek by our house. He did, however, need to test Peter’s faith during that storm in Galilee. I’d like to say that God had a little chuck at my faith and my ignorance that afternoon.
I showed my faith in God that day. My failure to walk on the water didn’t discourage me one bit. It wasn’t long after that I walked the aisle and dedicated my life to Jesus at age six.
As I sit here on a C-17, my foot in a post-op boot. Earphones are blaring the music of my childhood. These songs bring me so much joy and stir deep-rooted emotion. With two amputated toes and possibly more surgeries and lots of rehab ahead, I don’t think I’ll be attempting to physically walk on water any time soon!
However, as the song says, the world can only offer two options. You can sink or you can swim. But you can walk on the top with Jesus, one step at a time.
My walk is not over. They say that you have to learn to walk before you can run. I’ve always been a rebel. As a toddler, I ran before I walked. I’m not running any time soon. Instead, I’m walking beside him on this journey, one careful step at a time!
Now the reason for the cassette tape’s ever-presence. My grandfather passed away from bone cancer when I was five. On the second side of the cassette, Mark Trammell sings, “It’s So Peaceful” (in the arms of my Lord). My mom listened to the song repeatedly to help her through the emotional time. I’ve found myself doing the same.
As the lyrics say, “with Jesus on my side, I am satisfied.” That is one thing that has kept me sane through this time in my life. Whatever happens, whatever may come, I know that He’s got this!
