A few week ago, we were on vacation in the Outer Banks with our entire family. The grandkids had a great time in the swimming pool. They are not good swimmers, so one adult needed to be with each child. One day, I was supervising Deiken. He wanted to jump off the side into the pool. I told him I would help him, but he needed to learn to come up, catch his breath and try to get to the side. So he stood at the edge of the pool, yells “cannnoooonbballll” at the top of his lungs and jumps in. I help him up and to the side of the pool. He gets up and goes through the same thing again. This time, I help him a little less. Each time I don’t do quite as much and offer more instruction. There are times he gets to the side spitting, hacking and coughing. But each time, he gets back up, yells “cannonball” and jumps back in. Three things are happening; he’s having a great time, he knows someone is there to help him and he is getting better at jumping in and thrashing his way to the side.

Peter writes in his second letter that we need to add to our Christian virtues and that if we “possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep us from being ineffective and unproductive…be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure.” Peter tells us that we need to continue to grow. We need to add to our faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. How are you doing in each of these areas? Are you willing to work on these areas, or have you come up “spitting, hacking and coughing” for the last time? God is there to help you get “to the side of the pool.” He won’t let you drown, but He will make you work hard to better yourself. What do you need to work on? Where do you want to grow? Give it a shot. God is waiting for you to step up, yell “cannonball” and jump in. He will be there to protect and help you.

-Dick