it was a day just like any other. there were splashes and sunshine, and my skin smelt of sunscreen and the soft sweet smell of sweat. i sat in my lifeguard chair and watched kids dive for rings and splash their siblings and my eyes wandered over to a family.
it was a dad and his daughter and he kept calling her "buddy".
she was a tomboy.
she was the apple of his eye.
he sat in the deep end and had her jump to him with big open arms ready to be caught.
she giggled.
he giggled.
and it reminded me of my dad.
i was suddenly in two places at once, my body was sitting lifeguarding and my mind was in Santa Barbra at the West Beach Inn being thrown over my dads shoulders. i remember the feeling of my slippery feet on his shoulders. i remember holding onto my dads neck desperately trying to hold my breath as he swam to the bottom of the pool, but i never could. my 10 year old lungs could never hold enough air. i remember getting out the pool wrinkled all over, tired, and ready to eat anything.
i loved remembering that memory about my dad. i loved being in two places at once. i loved remembering how much i loved my dad as a kid and how much i love him now.
i love when your day stops, and God shines on you.
today He shined on me with love from my past and excitement for my future.
God is always full of surprises, i just hope that next time He decided to shine down surprises on me, i wont be in charge of watching the lives of 65 children.
just a suggestion.
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