“I’m not going.”
We had just pulled up at the boat ramp where we were meeting our guide for the afternoon fishing trip I’d planned as a surprise for my boys.
They were both upset a few weeks before when we’d had to cancel because of bad weather. We could probably have handled cold and wet, but when Bob Maindelle of Holding the Line Guide Service said the fish don’t bite under those conditions, I knew we were sunk.
This time I decided not to tell them about the trip ahead of time to avoid the disappointment of canceling a second time.
When we parked at the secret destination and the guide approached our car, my seven year old refused to get out. And I wanted to hide. This man was volunteering to take my boys and I fishing because our Soldier is deployed. He does it for anybody in the area who’s loved ones are away on military duty - it is a program called Soldiers Kids Involved in Fishing Fun (SKIFF).
And right there beside Belton Lake this man’s selfless service stared right in the face of my son’s stubbornness.
He was kicking and screaming at me and climbing over the seats to avoid my reach.
Not my finest mommy moment.
I can’t tell you whether it was a threat or a bribe that finally coaxed him from the car into the boat.
Bless his heart, Bob seemed to simply ignore my son’s insolence, as we pushed back away from the ramp.
When the digital finder identified a large group of fish below us, he handed both boys a baited pole and gave them some instruction on how to lure the fish in under these conditions. In less than five minutes, my boys were pulling fish after fish into the boat.
And grinning from ear to ear.
Both of them.
My boys and Bob caught a combined 101 fish that day. My reluctant fisherman even reeled in a fish that broke the lake record and qualified for a Texas State largest of species certificate.
He went from kicking and screaming to blessed and beaming!
All because he decided to be obedient.
I still don’t know why he initially refused to get in the boat that day. Maybe it reminded him of fishing with his Daddy and that made him miss him even more. Perhaps the cloudy and drizzling weather looked unappealing or previous unsuccessful trips caused him to doubt his fishing prowess.
But I do know sadness, fears, unappealing conditions, and doubts have kept me from stepping out into appointments God has planned for me. I’ve been kicking and screaming and refusing to participate in His plans more times than I’d like to admit. I’ll never know what blessings I’ve squandered by my failure to cooperate.
Trusting God more than our doubts and fears fills us with confident obedience to go where He calls.
Are you kicking and screaming against some opportunity God has prepared for you? Consider for a moment the possibility of an immeasurable blessing He has planned for you? What’s it going to take to get you into the boat?
Dear Father, forgive me for all the opportunities I missed by kicking and screaming and refusing to obey Your plans for me. Strengthen my faith in You so that doubts, fears, sadness, or less than ideal conditions would no longer keep me from your appointments. Help me to step out in confident obedience to all You call me to do. Amen.
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:58
*To read more about our amazing trip, check out Bob’s article here.
* Photo credit to the amazing Leslie Stein.
For more encouragement please join the discussions on these fabulous blog link ups - Suzanne Eller, Thought Provoking Thursday, Susan B. Mead, Faith Filled Friday, Faith and Fellowship Friday, Grace and Truth Friday, Still Saturday, Good Morning Monday, Soul Survival, Monday Musings, Rah Rah Link Up, Tell His Story, Woman to Woman Wednesday, Women With Intention Wednesday.
Oh boy, have I done my fair share of kicking and screaming at God. But, you’re so right, if we will be obedient to His call there are immeasurable blessings.
On a different note, I am praying for you and the boys while Hubby is away. May you feel God strengthening you and bringing peace each day.
Me, too! Thanks, friend! I appreciate all the prayers I can get!
So glad Bob Maindell is still ministering to kids of deployed parents. My son went out with him in 2009. He really is a blessed fishermen, I don’t think anyone has come back without catching a fish. I was his admin. assistant at church for a year. Also, I’m pretty sure he has a regular guided fishing business for anyone who wants to fish.
He is incredible and how awesome that your son got to experience the same great event! He does offer regular guide trips through Holding the Line!
Liz, I love you more with each article I read. I’m in the midst of an ‘obedience’ experience in helping with an event. I’ll keep you posted about the experience.
Oh, Merri! Thanks! Please keep me posted, I’ll be praying God makes His way of obedience clear to you so you may experience His blessings!
Love the story of your “reluctant fisherman” and the application to our lives. Beautifully written.
Thanks, Barbara! So glad you stopped by today! Haven’t we all been “reluctant fishermen” at one point or another!
Once again wonderful word-pictures..xo
Thank you! xo
Hi Liz! I am visiting today as your neighbor from Monday Musings. I loved your story about your sons and how you also saw application for your own life! I was also blessed to hear about SKIFF. I LOVE that! At the beginning of my marriage, my husband spent all but nine intermittent months of our life delayed overseas as a US Marine Corps officer. I had our first child was he was deployed in Vietnam and he didn’t meet him until he was nearly 8 months old. If he had been older, that would have been a godsend for sure. Thanks again for sharing your life and heart!
Love,
Pam
Thanks for stopping by, Pam! It really was an amazing opportunity for them! I can relate to having a child while you hubby is deployed. Our first was 12 weeks old before he met Daddy! Thanks to your hubby for his service and to you for your support of him! Blessings, liz
What a wonderful program for soldiers kids! How awesome to have caught 101 fish!!
Your insights comparing your child not wanting to do something that brought about ultimate blessing and how we can be with the Lord was very convicting. Too often I am seeing my own weakness rather than God’s greatness.
So glad I visited here today. Thanks for sharing!
Karen, Thanks for stopping by! It was amazing! And the lesson is one I’m preaching to myself!
Thanks for sharing your story. I have been kicking and screaming a lot this past week but when I finally obeyed God there were blessings I would not have imagined. I like how you identify what makes the difference- “trusting God more than our doubts and fears.”
So easy to type those words, but OH so hard to actually do at times… Thanks for stopping by, Carly!
Sweet story- boy, can I kick and scream too! But how wonderful His gifts and blessings are. : ) Thanks for this wonderful point today : ) #WomenWithIntention
Me, too, Bethany! Thanks for stopping by!
love this! I can just imagine the beaming smiles with so many fish! It reminds me of when Jesus tells the disciples where to fish where they find nets full of fish! I really am kicking and screaming about a big project I feel God putting on my heart, and want to move forward with it looking for the enjoyment of doing God’s work!
Blessings today from #TellHisStory.
Kathy, I pray obedience wins out…Let your faith be bigger than your doubts and fears. Get in that boat! I hope you’ll come back and let me know how everything turned out!
Kicking and screaming to blessed and beaming!
I’ve been there too!
What a great story and application!
I love this! It’s so true to life that we sometimes kick and scream and we don’t see the blessings God has for us if we would just obey. Visiting from #dancewithJesus
This is my first visit here, but I’ll be back! I love, “Trusting God more than our doubts and fears fills us with confident obedience to go where He calls.” I’m so guilty of letting my doubts and fears convince me that I shouldn’t do whatever it is I’m doubting and fearful about. But God is able! And just like your little boy who experienced great blessing after his obedience - so it is with us when we obey our Father. Thank you so much for this reminder! ~ Lisa @LisaCook1914.blogspot.com
I know it! Me, too! So glad you stopped by today, Lisa! Thanks for hosting your Mom Monday Link Up!
“Trusting God more than our doubts and fears fills us with confident obedience to go where He calls.” Amen and amen. #livefreeThursday
Yes, Michelle! The more we remember about who God is and what he has done for us, the easier it gets to trust Him! Blessings!
Yep! That’s me….kicking and screaming! What a great post! Thanks for the encouragement! Cindy #livefreeThursday
Thanks for stopping by, Cindy. It’s me more than I’d like to admit, too! Blessings!