A newspaper article tells about two teenage boys in a swimming accident. Apparently, two male friends became over-heated from an unexpected warm spring day where temperatures rose to the mid-eighties, and since the boys were near a large lake, they decided to go for a swim. The water felt refreshing, although it was still very cool from winter. Upon attempting to swim across the massive lake, hypothermia began to hit, and as the boys began to fight the weakness of their muscles, they suddenly realized how serious the situation now was.

While the one boy had more weight on his body to keep him in less critical shape, the thinner boy had no protection from the cold water which robbed him of his ability to breathe and swim properly. After a few desperate screams for help, the thin teen sunk below the water, but surfaced in time to cough up water which had now entered his lungs. As the teen slid back in to a watery grave, as if out of no where, a man reached down and grabbed him, pulling him to safety. Both boys were brought to dry land, although the teen who had swallowed water needed to be transported to a hospital. His lips were blue, skin pale, and body shivering uncontrollably.

As it turns out, the man who saved the teens just happened to be getting ready to test a new jet ski he bought. He heard the cries for help in the distance and rushed immediately to the boys assistance. Had this man not been at the right place at the right time, I have no doubt some poor mother and father would have received the most devastating news of their life.

That mother would have been me.

You see, the above story is real, and the teen who nearly drowned was my son. Its pain is still very real.

While driving to the emergency room in a frantic state, unsure if our son was living or dead, I realized just how much I love him. Sure, we say we love our kids, but do we fully understand the depth of this love until something life-threatening like this happens? In the blink of an eye, our heart can be torn in two, and a piece of our self lost forever. At that moment, I knew I would easily give my life for my child to live.

It wasn’t necessary for me to offer my life that day, but as my tears turned to shouts of praise to God for allowing my son to live, I could not help but think about Christ’s sacrifice on the cross so that we, too, may truly live. Not only did Christ allow himself to be used as a living sacrifice, but God the Father offered His Son for you and for me.

Such a thought is almost incomprehensible! What a magnificent love God must have to offer mankind such a gift! Let us not let life and love go unappreciated. Embrace all the beauty life has to offer, and invite God in to your life so that you may know His all-encompassing love.

By Melanie Schurr, Copyright (c) 1998 http://www.angelfire.com/mi/melschurr