Sweet Caroline

I sat by the pool watching Sweet Caroline  swim around with her goggles stuck around her eyes (for those who don't know who Sweet Caroline is, she's the daughter of the family I'm staying with. She is crazy smart and very fun to be around). Sweet Caroline is in first grade and her swimming style reflects that. She goes as long and far as she can with her head down. Finally, she pops up and then bounces (barely out of the water) multiple times until she can get a good breath in. After she inhales a great big breath, she repeats the process. It is somewhat nerve wracking because in honesty she could use a few more swim lessons. After bobbing to the side of the pool I was sitting by, she would bob over to the other side and repeat. Every once in a while Sweet Caroline would come up to the wall and smile with her toothless grin and have me watch some trick she was going to try. 

What Sweet Caroline didn't know is that I had been watching her  very closely the past 15 minutes. Every time she bumped into someone, stayed under too long, and looked unsteady, I was ready to go in after her. But i wasn't only looking for her next mistake or "fall," I was watching her grow, learn, and gain experience. I was also enjoying her find joy from the water and giggle and smile, I loved how she was serious and intent upon getting from one side to another. It was no joke, swimming -- maybe because it wasn't so easy for her, maybe because she really wanted to be proficient, or maybe because she was a little scared...like me.    

As I was sitting with my towel wrapped loosely around my waist, I realized that's how Jesus works sometimes. I think he sits watching, never taking his eyes off us. He loves watching us grow and learn and find joy and be messy and lovely all at the some time. And He sits in His towel waiting to hop in with us when we're overwhelmed. Maybe He's still a little wet from the last time He surprised us and just jumped in to play. 

I am so in love with the dynamic, beautiful Jesus I have met. He is amazing. 

And maybe He smiles when He sees our goggle lines like I did when I saw Sweet Caroline's :)