July 19, 2025
I love the beach! (I may have said this a time or two before.) I love listening to and watching the ocean and the waves. There is just something about it that to me is so calming and relaxing. I’m not so much a “get in the ocean girl” but rather a “watch the ocean girl.”
We are about to leave on our family summer vacation. This is a week the entire family looks forward to, especially the grandchildren. I was reminded of a beach trip several years ago when our granddaughter, Blakeley (who just turned 15), was ten. I thought I would share this story with you. Blakeley loves the ocean. I think she would stay out there all day if she had the opportunity.
Over the past few years, she has become a very good boogie boarder. I think she would say that is one of her very favorite things. I learned a lot from Blakeley just by watching her at the beach. I’m sure you know that the waves and water can change daily in the ocean. On a couple of days that we were there, the little green pieces of seaweed were floating all in the ocean. That scenario right there is one of the reasons I stay out of the water. Blakeley’s love of boogie boarding kept her in the water.
She could handle the seaweed because her desire to be in the water was greater than the discomfort of the seaweed. She would navigate the waves, enjoy the water, and then just rinse that nasty seaweed off at the shower. She didn’t let it stop her from enjoying the ocean. It really made me think. Sometimes my life is full of seaweed. Problems and trials can be slimy, sticky, and uncomfortable.
I think of the ocean like Jesus. He is the "living water," the constant and always present living water. Am I willing to handle the small discomforts of life, the trials, and sticky, uncomfortable situations because my desire to be in the water with Jesus is greater than those discomforts? Shouldn’t I be like Blakeley and just navigate those discomforts, knowing they will eventually rinse off and just enjoy the water?
On several days, the waves were huge and pretty rough. According to Blakeley, those were the “best” boogie boarding days. She would get out there and jump the waves, just waiting for the perfect one. Sometimes she would get knocked down, but she would not get discouraged. She would just patiently wait until she caught the perfect wave, and since they were so rough, she would be able to ride it all the way into the shore.
Again, this made me think. Sometimes life is rough. The problems feel like they can overwhelm me and knock me down. Am I persistent enough to get back up and keep going, knowing that the water (Jesus), at the right time can take me from the crashing waves all the way into the safety of the shore?
The last few days we were at the beach that year, the water was so calm and probably the clearest I have seen it in a very long time. It seemed as though there were just small ripples in the water instead of waves. If you love boogie boarding, these are not the perfect or most adventurous conditions for you.
I watched Blakeley get into the ocean, lie on that boogie board, and just float. The waves were not big enough to ride, but she stayed in the ocean. It was like the water was rocking her back and forth in a smooth motion. She stayed out there for hours just enjoying every minute of that smooth ride.
It made me think about the times life can just “rock along.” Do I enjoy the ride? Do I rest and abide in the water (Jesus), and just enjoy every minute of it? 1 John 4:16 says, "So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." Love for God and others is the way to continue growing in the Lord.
The love of God will see you through the calm times in life, but also the sticky, messy seaweed times, and the rough days of life. I love the beach, but more than the beach, I love my God!
I am always thankful when I get to spend time with my children and grandchildren. I am also grateful when God teaches me lessons when I am with them. I learned some important lessons from Blakeley that week at the beach. She reminded me to love the water (Jesus) so much that the seaweed, rough waves, or calm waters don’t discourage me from getting in. I will look at the ocean differently now, knowing the seaweed of life, with time, will disappear. The strong, rough waves I face will get me to shore if I hold on and don't lose hope, and the calm waters will give me time to rest. My God can remove the seaweed, carry me through the rough waters, and He desires for me to abide in Him when the water is calm.
I'm looking forward to this year's beach trip and making new memories. I think I'll focus on riding the waves, brushing off the seaweed, and enjoying time with Jesus!
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Jill Johnson finds spiritual applications in her everyday experiences as a wife, mother, grandmother, and Georgian. Jill is retired from the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and is available to speak to your church's women's gatherings. Reach her at jjohnson@gabaptist.org.
