HomeReflectionsHold On and Don't Let Go
When I was a boy we lived so far out in the country that we had to hunt toward town. Actually our driveway was a half-mile off the "dirt" road. We had every curve, hill and rut named in that drive way. Between the "big hill" and the "barn hill" was a valley and in through those meadows ran a "spring branch," crystal clear and ice cold. This branch ran across the road at the foot of these hills and during a big rain that branch would run like a small river. Often times as boys we would pray for rain on school days, because no one could get in or out by the road. The school system allowed for that, so we would get a free day when it "rained big." That was all well and good when you were safe at home, but if a rain came while you were on the other side you were in trouble. One winter night my two brothers and I were coming in and it had been raining something awful. When we came to the foot of the big hill the water had risen far up the hill and we could not think of taking the old car across. None of us could swim and the water looked to be up to our necks and running swiftly. We had to make a choice.
The weather was so cold we feared freezing, we couldn't back up the hill and we couldn't take the old car across. My oldest brother said, "let's cross over!" We took each other by the hand and started into the swift water. The water was icy cold and as we got to the swiftest part my feet could no longer touch bottom. My brother had already gotten a solid footing on the other side of the deep part. He called out to my other brother and me and said "hold on and don't let go!" He didn't and we didn't. We reached the other side wet, cold, but safe! Crazy? Yes! God took care of us that stormy night and taught me a great lesson as well. "Together" we can cross raging streams and the chill of the life's winters! Together we can -- if we will just remember to remind each other... "Hold on and don't let go!"
