Safe in the Boat

Riley watched the smooth, tranquil surface of the water as she and her grandfather drifted across the lake in his boat. Suddenly, twenty or thirty fish leaped out of the water all around Riley, a cauldron of boiling activity. Riley was terrified. What unseen enemy could be so frightening that it could catapult so many fish into the air? She quickly turned toward her grandfather, who was fishing from the opposite side of the boat with his back to her."Grandpa!" Riley cried. "What was that?""What was what? Did you see an alligator?" he asked, chuckling."I didn't see what it was, but something made the fish jump all around me!"Just then something thumped the boat from below, sending them rocking back and forth. Riley screamed and clutched the railing next to her. Grandpa turned around, startled, and peered out across the water. "I heard on the news that someone spotted an alligator in this lake, but they never come this far north. I didn't believe it," said Grandpa, rapidly reeling in his fishing line. "Maybe it was an alligator." He saw the petrified expression on Riley's face and smiled. "But you don't need to be afraid, Riley." "Are you sure about that?" asked Riley as she gripped the railing tighter."Quite sure. This boat is too big and the sides rise too high above the water for an alligator to get in." Grandpa started the motor and began steering the boat to another part of the lake. "And besides, this boat isn't the only thing keeping us safe.""It's not?" Riley asked in a shaky voice.Grandpa shook his head. "God is with us." He smiled at Riley reassuringly. "The Bible says that no matter what happens, we are safe in His hands. Because you and I both trust in Jesus, nothing can separate us from Him. Even if something terrible were to happen to us, we can have peace knowing that Jesus has saved us from our worst enemies of all--sin, death, and Satan. He is like this boat--He protects our souls just as surely as this strong boat hull keeps us safe from alligators."Riley relaxed a little, but continued to hold on to the railing. She was not going to stick even her pinky out of the boat!- Vicky Kaseorg