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Vipin was very happy that finally the vacation had come.
Vipin's father had business in the city. So his family
lived in the city, and he attended school there. But he
liked the life in the village, in his grandparents'
house. He liked to run and play with his cousins who
were all living in the village. Vipin liked the
farmlands, streams, trees and lakes in the village.
Naturally he was very excited to visit his grandparents.
As planned, Vipin and his parents travelled to their
village. He was very thrilled to travel by train. The
scenery outside enticed him. Finally they arrived at
their station in the evening. It was getting dark when
they reached home. His grandparents and other relatives
were waiting to receive them. It was a joyful occasion
for the whole family to be together again. Vipin wanted
to visit the ponds and the lake which was adjacent to
the village. But his father assured him that they could
visit the lake the next day.
Vipin got up early in the morning. He was overjoyed by
the sounds of nature. The birds chirping on the nearby
trees and the sound of cocks crowing all made him very
happy. Vipin wanted to set out on his adventure soon. He
got ready, had breakfast and waited for his cousins.
Vipin was fond of pets, and he walked around the house
to see the pets. There were dogs, cats, hens, goats,
birds, fish and a cow. Soon his four cousins also got
ready. The two boys and one girl were older to him, and
one girl cousin was younger to him.
They all wanted to go to the lake. Three of Vipin's
cousins planned to swim in the lake. And they went
prepared. Vipin's father also joined them, and they all
walked to the lake with great enthusiasm. On the way
they met their neighbours and exchanged greetings. As
soon as they reached the lake, Vipin's elder cousins
changed to their swimming suits and jumped into the
water and began to swim. Vipin did not know swimming.
But he desperately wanted to swim like his cousins. He
wanted to jump in to the water and try swimming. But his
father prevented him, and made him understand that it
was very dangerous. Vipin was insistent. He wanted to
learn swimming, or at least he wanted to lie on water
and enjoy. His father agreed to help him with a lifebuoy
or a life preserver.
Later his grandfather borrowed a life preserver from a
neighbour and gave Vipin. They went to the lake, and
Vipin played on the water with the life preserver around
his chest. He was really having fun. With the lifebuoy
around his chest, Vipin started to learn swimming. He
and his cousins daily visited the lake for swimming.
Vipin gradually learned a little swimming. One day Vipin
went to the lake with his cousins. His father was not
with them. He thought that new he knew swimming. To him
it seemed simple to play on top of the water. He forgot
about the life preserver. “I can swim by myself,” he
thought as he ran to the lake and jumped in. But without
the preserver he sank in the water. He was shouting for
help as he began to drown. Luckily his cousins jumped in
the lake and saved him. They gave him first-aid, and
made him vomit the water that he drank. Vipin was
frightened. They helped him to reach home and take rest.
His father scolded him for doing a foolish act. His
grandfather told them that always one should wear the
life preserver. He continued, “In a similar way Jesus is
our life preserver. If it were not for Him, in whom we
put our trust daily, we would drown and die spiritually
in the ocean of our sins just as Vipin almost drowned
physically. Only in Jesus do we have the power to
'float' above the things in life that would sink us and
draw us to the bottom. We are sinners, unable to stay on
top of the troubles and temptations of life by
ourselves. Our sins are too heavy to allow us to swim.”
He continued with conviction as all of them listened
attentively, “Our only hope is in our spiritual life
preserver, Jesus. We are not competent of ourselves. How
thankful we are that He is there to rescue us from
drowning in the waters of sin and destruction!” All
agreed to always carry Jesus in their hearts because
only He could help them to live victoriously.
Let us pray that God will enable us also. Lord Jesus,
thank You for being able to rescue me always. Help me
cling to You throughout my journey in life. Amen. God
bless you!
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