I sent this recently to a dear friend:
A story about a boat
Imagine yourself in a small row boat. With you in the boat are your loved ones, and all you consider dear. The boat is strong and steady.
Then unexpectedly one of those on the boat begins to stir, and rock, and eventually dives overboard. This person struggles and kicks until exhausted but no effort made seems to bring them closer to safety.
So you begin to reach and stretch risking everyone in the boat. The boat rocks dangerously, it begins taking water, but still you reach further. Your loved one is not reaching back, they have turned their back, they are moving away.
You see the fear on the faces of those in the boat with you. You feel your own fear and for the first time realize that you and the others are in very serious danger. You feel helpless.
It is then you see the life preserver and throw it as hard and far as you can. You hold on dearly to those you can help, knowing you’ve done all that is possible for your loved one in trouble. You settle back in the boat, and you pray like you’ve never prayed before.
You pray that they will take the help. You pray that they will hold on tight and you pray that they begin to swim. And in their own time they do.
Because before that, they didn’t know they could.