An awesome gentleman often swaps faith history with me. We each have known the grief of losing a mother and father within abbreviated periods and in close succession. I delight in his wisdom and his friendship. A former tennis pro, he had revealed to me once that he desired in his past to join the priesthood. After returning from a recent absence away from the office, he stopped me. He eagerly wanted to share with me an incredible testimony.  He had been blessed by a miracle while he was away. He explained that he had joined with family for a seasonal return to the waterfront vacation home he enjoyed with his parents. This time however both parents would be absent.  Dad, widowed a few years prior, had not so very long ago passed away. He told my friend that he was dancing with his wife. After those words his father closed his eyes and peacefully left them.

One day, while on this recent sabbatical, my friend stood on the beach and watched as his grandson enjoyed playing and swimming in the water. He suddenly noticed that his grandson was struggling in the water. The child had been over taken by a rip tide. My friend raced to his grandson and dove into the waters to assist him only to find that they were both now in the tide’s grasp. He struggled and stroked and fought, but the tide pushed them further and further from help and land. His grandson started going under. My friend knew he had to use all of his strength to hold up his grandson and keep them both above the waters. The fight proved too much for both and each slowly fell lifelessly into the deep.

They were far from shore and far from the help of man. My friend said that he realized he and his grandson were perishing. But then…he saw the face of his father. He felt a sense of readiness and peacefulness and closed his eyes. He is uncertain of the transpired time. He doesn’t remember any pain. He understood it was likely his end. He was no longer conscious of anything around him. He knew his fight was over, but then…he woke up! When he opened his eyes he found that it was as if God had reached down from heaven and gently scooped  up he and his grandson’s lifeless bodies from the abyss and laid them on the shore. There was no one around. No man was responsible for saving them! No man heard or witnessed their fight. He knew without hesitation or doubt that God had grabbed them.

Psalm 144:7  “Send thine hand from above ; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters …”

Yes God is real! What has He done for you lately?