Stay On The Path

My grandparents were snowbirds at one time.  They would come down after October Conference and leave just before April Conference.  They owned a little house out in an elderly community called Sun Lakes.  Back in the day, it was a way long drive.  Now, thanks to freeways and umpteen houses being built, the area around Sun Lakes is a thriving metropolis.

We spent a lot of time with our grandparents while they were here.  One Saturday, my parents had dropped  us off at Grandma & Grandpa's house.  There's only so much you can do in an elderly community so we quickly became bored and were looking for something to do.  So we asked to ride bikes around the community.  Grandma's bike was a three-wheeler with a basket in the back.  It was a beauty.  Big wheels, handle bars way out, and a basket big enough to fix my little six year old body.

 

We were all ready to go out together, Shayne riding Grandma's bike with me in the back, Sauna on Grandpa's bike, and Derek must have just walked, I'm not sure.  I can't remember where Ty & Cody were either, but they were still young.  But, just before we left Grandma strictly told us -- "Don't go off the path!" As obediently as our little voices could muster, we said, "Yes, Grandma." She told us a few more times, not go off the path.  We agreed we wouldn't and headed off.

It was a beautiful spring day.  The sun was shining, the grass around us was incredibly green.  We could ride by all the beautiful lakes.  It was awesome!  As we were riding around one of the lakes I saw some baby ducks off in the distance.  Oh, they were so cute.  They were dark little babies, and I wanted to see them REALLY bad.  I began to beg my brother, Shayne to please ride the bike over to see them.  Both my brother & sister chimed in to remind me that Grandma had told us to stay on the path.  I, however, continued to beg and beg him to take me over there.

Finally he caved in and we began riding the bike on the grass by the lake, in order to get a closer look at the ducks.  As we drew closer to where the ducks were resting, we didn't see that as you get closer to the lake the muddier the grass became and things were a bit slick.  We continued to ride, getting closer and closer, then just before reaching the ducks, the bike began to slide in the mud and we landed right in the lake.  I didn't know how to swim at the time so Shayne was holding me in the water.  I was really nervous and crying.  Shayne, with a soft voice, told me to calm down and that everything would be okay.  My sister, Sauna, however, was in a bit of a panic.  She ran back screaming to my grandma that we had fallen in the lake. 

Nearby there were some construction workers who saw us fall into the lake.  They quickly came to our rescue.  They got both of us out, then somehow they were able to get the bike out too. 

Grandma came down to the lake and ushered us all home.  I was amazed that she wasn't really angry.  Her voice was firm, but loving.  I remember her washing me up in the bathtub and talking to me about the experience.  After being in that cold lake water, the warm bath and Grandma talking seemed to comfort me. 

I've looked back on this experience many times.  I've thought of a lot of different "morals to the story":

• The importance of staying on the path -- the right path.
• The construction workers coming to rescue us -- when we sin there are people there waiting to rescue us -  family, friends, church leaders.
• Despite being disobedient, I knew my Grandma still loved me.  I knew she still cared for my safety, well-being, and how I was feeling.
• The pitfalls of temptation -- that when we choose to sin, the consequences are pretty yucky.

There are so many things that I can take from this lesson, but the one I think about the most is the reaction of my brother.  His voice trying to calm to me down, telling me that everything was going to be okay.  I appreciate to this day the love of my brother.  His desire was to please his little sister by going to see the ducks.  When we were in trouble he was still thinking of me, trying to take care of me.

As I have thought of this love over the years, I have often compared it to the love of our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ.  When we think we might be drowning in the lake -- whether it struggles, trials, burdens that we may be carrying that seem to heavy to bear.  I feel His love and His voice telling me softly, "It's going to be okay."  I am thankful for this knowledge, to know that we have an Elder Brother who loves us, who know us, and has already felt the pain of this life.  He was willing to take it upon Himself, so that if we'd repent, we could live with Him again.