FISHERS OF MEN
About a month ago, my oldest grandson, Jimmy, called me and asked if I wanted to go fishing with him. Now, going fishing has never been high on my bucket list, but to get this invitation from this special young man made my day, my week, my month—my year! I was being invited to leave my comfort zone again!
We went out to a lake near my house, and as we were getting to the edge of the water, we saw someone pull a fish out of the lake. We had high hopes, but Jimmy didn’t get a bite. He did show me how to cast and he agreed to pick up a fishing pole for me so next time, I could fish with him more.
Jimmy now has a bunch of buddies to go with him to fish. He was kind of like Tom Sawyer with rounding up a group of boys. Like painting that fence, he talked about it and made it sound like so much fun, that now there is a group that goes as often as they can. I was kind of expecting this group to replace me in this new sport of mine.
But Jimmy and I are still going fishing, playing ping pong and hanging out. What I learned about fishing is that you have great conversations and bonding. It’s so much more than getting that fish to bite. So far, Jimmy has said he’ll handle the bait for me. But who knows? Maybe I’ll leave that comfort zone as well!
We all need these special people and connections in our lives. Even in grief, when we feel alone, if we look around, there are people waiting to come alongside us. I think I’ve been grateful for so many new relationships, but this closeness with Jimmy has caused me to reflect deeply on the people that matter to me and who I matter to as well. It’s a new awareness of so much love that still surrounds me.
I’m reaching out this week to thank those who have become so meaningful to me in my grief.
What about you? Even if you are not in a season of grief, maybe there are some people who would like to know that they matter a great deal to you.
Who should you reach out to this week?
Matthew 4:18-22, “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.”