God is Breaking Down Walls in my Life

Today God powerfully planted a lesson in my heart. Yesterday my kids began swimming lessons. I could tell even at the first lesson that the situation at the pool was rather chaotic and unorganized, but God used that at today’s second lesson to teach me a lesson.

Kara and Luke are in the very first swimming class. You know the class–they get acquainted with the water and begin to feel comfortable so they can get their faces wet, etc. Brock’s class meets at the very same time. His class can swim, but not very far or very well. Brock was fretting about his class today because the pool was so crowded that his class was going to meet in the deep end. He was pretty upset, so I was watching him to see if he gained confidence, but regularly checked on Luke and Kara too.

Well, about half-way through the class, I looked over at Luke and Kara’s class just in time to see a woman in Muslim clothing pulling Kara out of the water by one arm. I couldn’t tell exactly what was going on nor if Kara was even conscious! I went as quickly as I could over to the side of the pool where the lady had laid her on the cement, and she told me that Kara had gotten into the deep water and was under the water. The lifeguard still didn’t even know anything was going on–even though Kara was laying on the concrete outside of the pool!

We got Kara up and as soon as she sputtered and coughed a little, she was fine other than being scared. Only then did the lifeguard even ask if anything was the matter! It all turned out all right–Kara wanted me to hold her a little while, but by the last few minutes of the class she was ready to get back in the pool. That’s my Kara: a little brave toughie!

Later a lady I knew from a church that I previously attended came and told me that she had seen the whole thing and that Kara had actually done pretty well. She had gotten into the deeper water and when she got away from the edge of the pool, she went under the surface, but kept bobbing up to get air and wiggled her way to the side where the Muslim lady pulled her out.

When I was telling Dan about all of this, he said, “Doesn’t this sound like the Parable of the Good Samaritan?” Yes, indeed, it does. The lifeguard, who was supposed to be watching out for the kids was completely unaware of what was going on. Other people saw what was happening to Kara didn’t do anything–they didn’t even call the lifeguard. Then who was the “good neighbor?” Yes, the Muslim lady. The lady that is ostracized in our town because of her religious beliefs and her clothing was the one who took action.

As I sat holding Kara after the whole ordeal, God touched my heart. I am one of those who doesn’t love as I should. I am one who judges by outward appearances. God, please forgive me. I praise God that He used this woman today, not only to help Kara, but to open my own eyes, and I pray that God will bless her today for her actions, and that His Holy Spirit will be drawing her to Himself.