Encountering God at the Beach
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 08:25PM One particulary hot Sunday afternoon, my wife and I took our daughter and her friend to the beach. It was, of course, very crowded as it was a holiday weekend. We enjoyed our time laying in the sun and reading and eventually going in the refreshing water with the girls. After our time was complete, we packed up the mini-raft, the floating toys, the four towels, the sunscreen, books, and beach bags, on the father, me. We walked off the beach and out the parking lot, the two girls and my wife in front of me, the pack mule. Just before we reached the car, some young ladies called to us from between the cars – “Is anybody missing a little girl?” Lori went over to the girls who told her that this little girl was walking around, crying. My wife picked her up and said “I’ll take care of her!” and headed back to the beach as I tried to unload all of the beach articles I was carrying. Lori and the girls walked onto the beach to help the little girl find her mother. They spotted a police officer and approached him, telling of the little girls situation. As I walked to catch up to them, I couldn’t help but to wonder where her family was, and why weren’t they walking, or running around, yelling her name in search for her. The police office took my wife, still holding the little girl, over towards the edge of the water. I noticed a family there, who were all at or in the water, searching, dread on their faces, hoping for the best, but expecting the worst, that their little girl was gone.
I encountered a little piece of God’s love as the family turned and saw the little girl in my wife’s arms. The mother, who had been holding it together, took her little girl, embraced her and broke down weeping. We walked back to the car, praising God that we could help show His love to that family.
