Grace given! Grace received!
“Is that what we can expect today?”
Those words shouted from the boat that day were a reminder of the grace we are given every day. It makes me wonder if God is sitting on the throne of Grace and asking, “Is that what I can expect today?” Let me give you the back story. I will do my best to explain.
I was an avid water skier just a few short years ago. I entered the sport very late in life, but I became addicted to every aspect of it. The first time the girls and I skied on the course was at a local ski club close to our house.
John became a close friend who invited us to give it a try there; he was a member of the club. Even though we thought we skied great, we were at a beginner level. I asked John, “What did you think of our skiing?” He said, “The girls did well, but your skiing is probably some of the ugliest skiing I’ve ever seen.” His comment didn’t deter me; I was fully committed to the sport. We joined the ski club, and over the years, our skiing improved significantly. We started to compete in local competitions. Waterskiing became part of our family, and the waterski community became part of our family as well. As with all sports, if you want to get better, you have to invest in coaching.
During that time, a weekend-long waterski clinic was being held near us, a couple of hours away in Greenville, NC. Two of my waterski idols were coaching—Kristi Overton and Jeff Rodgers. All you had to do was call the number and register. Laura, our youngest daughter, and I really wanted to go. Sara didn’t express an interest in going: she just enjoyed the sport.
I called the number, and I was a bit shaken when Kristi answered. I was so nervous after finding out who it was. She said she would love to have us there and explained the clinic's cost. She must have heard the distress in my voice when she explained the cost. I told her I would do my best to raise funds so I could make it. Just a few minutes later, she called back. She said, “I really want you to be able to make it, so plan on coming and just pay what you can, no worries; it will be fun.” Grace given! Grace received!
I was the only one who was going to get coaching; Laura came along with me to cheer me on. I told her to watch and learn as much as she could from the shore, and I would teach her everything I learned when we returned to the ski club. We met up at Lake Kristi early that morning, and the fog was slowly lifting off the water as the boat rumbled in the background. I know, and yes, the lady has her own lake, and that’s another story in itself. Laura and I were standing on the shore. I had my ski, gloves, and handle. There was a group of about ten skiers. We talked about skiing stuff mostly.
In the distance, I saw a tall figure coming up the hill, and beside him was a kid on a small motorcycle. Someone in the crowd whispered, “That’s Jeff Rodgers.” I almost fell out from excitement. He was my all-time hero in waterskiing. He came over to the group and talked for only a few moments; he is a man of few words. His son was sitting close by on his motorcycle, enjoying his father’s time. Laura and I stood off to the side of the group, amazed at the waterskiing legend. Then Kristi drove up on a golf cart with her dad, Parker. We just stared at them awkwardly. Now we call that the goofy stare.
Parker approached Laura and me and asked if we were both skiing. Laura said, “No, just my daddy.” He asked, “Where is your ski?” She said, “In the car.” He asked her to get in the golf cart and later returned with her and her ski, gloves, and handle. “She’s skiing this weekend, too,” he said. Grace given! Grace received!
I could write an entire book on this family and what they have done for my family. This was a brief encounter with them, and in the years to come, life-changing experiences would take place because of them. I believe we crossed paths for a reason, and I thank God that He brought them into our lives.
Now back to the lake. I continued to stare at my idol, Jeff Rodgers, and he said, “Who’s first up today?” Thankfully, someone spoke up and said they would go. I was trying to hide in the crowd because I was so nervous. They skied and seemed to do well. As the boat pulled back up to the shore, a voice from the boat said, “George.” I was shaking but ready to learn from one of the best.
I climbed onto the platform and put on my ski and gloves. Jeff said, “Just relax and have fun.” I was thinking, Have fun? ‘Cause I’m here to tear this course up. I’m about to show you something. I dropped into the water, and the boat rounded the turn island, and then I started my glide out to get ready to enter the course. I had pulled so hard that I got into what is called a lean lock, hit some ripples in the water, and then fell before I ever entered the course.
Who gets lean locked pulling out for the glide? I thought as I slowly rose from under the water. Everyone on the shore was staring at me as the boat pulled back over to me. Then Jeff stood up tall in the boat, slowly brought the ropes back in, and simply said, “Is that what we can expect today? I mean, really, is that it?” Then gave me one of the biggest and most comforting Jeff Rodgers’ smiles I have ever seen. Later in this life, I would learn that that is who he is. Grace given! Grace received!
After that failed first attempt, I learned so much that I skied the best I had ever skied. Even to this day. I received.
So many positive things came out of the meetings that weekend; it was never about waterskiing. There is and was a much larger purpose in those times. That’s for a whole book that I hope to write someday. There were experiences all over the United States of America that not only changed my life, but also those of many others, not because of me, but those who chose to share grace.
The heart of this story is about grace given and grace received. In my life, there has been so much grace given. Have I received all that has been offered? Probably not. Why not? That’s the whole point of the story right now.
To the addict, the lost, and the homeless. To the struggling marriage and to the one who wants to quit today—give grace. When I wanted to quit, grace was given; when my marriage wasn’t what it should have been, grace was given; when I felt less than, grace was given; and when I fell, grace was given.
It’s up to you to receive the grace that is given. Never be so busy or so important in your own eyes that you can’t give grace. Those I met that day gave amazing grace and changed so many lives. Stand up tall in the midst of it all, smile, and know you’re going to be okay. Receive grace! Give grace!
The undercurrent of all of this, and the thing that took me months to put into words, is that the most amazing grace is the grace of Jesus Christ.
Receive that grace today!
Editor: Sandra Wester www.sandwestedit.com
