1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 

     3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 

                       -Psalms 121

A young boy went on a two day fishing trip with his dad. While fishing he marveled at the meticulous way his dad went about fishing. From the hooks, to the poles, to the float and the bait, everything seemed well thought out. 

After a particularly successful day, they went back ashore with fish-a-plenty. And as careful as the father planned the day, he also ended it, placing the fish in the cooler efficiently, storing the hooks, bait and poles. 

The final thing his dad did was to place an anchor for the boat. As the son watched this last act, he had questions. 

Dad, why didn’t you just take the boat out of the water?

Dad, why do you have to place an anchor? 

Seeing this as an opportunity to teach, the father talked about staying the course and how Jesus calmed the storm. The son looked on in admiration and questioning eyes, saying well the water is calm here. 

To that the father then took this chance to illustrate the importance of being stabilized. He dislodged the anchor placing it in the boat but with precaution and unknown to his son tied a rope to the boat. 

Continued tomorrow...

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. -Proverbs 22:6

                       -Psalms 121

Back to our story...

The next morning, the young lad was excited contemplating his day. As the sun rose the duo walked towards the peer, the son slightly faster than the father. 

In an instant from perfection came panic, and the son stared in disbelief because the boat had drifted to the middle of the lake. Without a blink his father said it is easier to drift if you don’t have an anchor. 

The father then began to hum “There’s a storm on the ocean...” As he pulled on the previously placed rope. 

Dad then told his son, parents put a prayerful rope on their children. Not so tight that they can’t breathe but not so loose that they drift too far away.  

The ever curious son wanted scripture too which dad gave him an explanation of 

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. -Proverbs 22:6

They then went about their day bringing in another abundant catch. As they rode home the father asked his son, what was the most enjoyable thing about the trip, the number fish? 

The boy seemed deep in thought but said no. Pressing him dad asked was it the camping, the campfire, the water all to which the boy said no, not getting an answer the father remained quite until the boy stated, you know what I liked most, dad... the dad with questioning eyes asked what, and the response of the boy was "learning". 

Parents spend time and teach your children, they will one day appreciate it and certainly need it.