Learning to swim without fear

Andrea Hamley

It was one of the first times Alison had been in a pool. She was taking swimming lessons, and the two swimming teachers wanted her to try swimming alone, but she was too scared. She didn't know the swimming teachers very well, and Mom wasn't in the pool with her. So, she cried during each swimming lesson, and the crying kept her from listening to and learning from the teachers. Mom began to wonder if she should take Alison out of the swimming classes because she wasn't learning much about swimming.

They talked it over. If Alison stayed in the classes, she could learn two things: she could learn how to swim, and she could learn how to overcome fear. Mom thought these two lessons seemed too important to pass up, but Alison still wasn't quite sure. Alison needed to know how to swim, but it was even more important that she learn just how close God is—that He is all-powerful and all good, and that there is no power that could make her afraid.

Alison attended a Christian Science Sunday School, where she had been learning that God is really our Father-Mother. Our Parent, God, loves all of His children. Mom turned to the book of Acts in the Bible, where Paul, a follower of Christ Jesus, explained who God was to the people of Athens. They thought He was "THE UNKNOWN GOD," but Paul said, " ... in him we live, and move, and have our being" (see Acts 17:22-29). Mom knew that Alison lived and moved and had her being in God's loving care. Alison was beginning to understand that, too.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Learning to swim without fear

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access