IT’S A SHARK!!

This past summer we went to Southern Florida for a vacation.

We typically go to the panhandle of Florida, so going further south was a new and exciting experience. Since it was during the quarantine, we rented a boat and went to tiny islands where we were able to be on the beach with hardly anyone else. It was lovely, truly lovely.

Well, it was lovely until I was scared out of my mind.

Our eldest son, Michael, was snorkeling in water about up to his chest and found a giant hermit crab. (That’s not the scary part!)

He tried to show me, but I couldn’t see it because I was about 10 feet away from him and didn’t have goggles on. Being the sweet son he is, he decided he would pick it up so I could look at it. (Because if you know me at all. . .things like that make me really, really excited! After all, it’s a great learning opportunity. No homeschool mom can pass up one of those. . .just ask my kids how annoying that can be! 😂)

As he was underwater, I looked to his left and saw a large dark shadow that appeared to be moving towards him. I turned to my husband, Jonathan, and said, “Look! Is that moving?”

But I already knew. It was moving, and it was moving right towards Michael.

I started screaming hysterically, “Michael! Michael! Get out! Get out! It’s a shark! MICHAEL!! A SHARK!!”

He couldn’t hear me. I knew what was about to happen, that shark was about to devour him right in front of me!

I was running towards him, but it was in slow motion. (I don’t run very fast on land, let alone in water!)

By this time the giant shadow was within inches of him. (I’m seriously not exaggerating!)

“MICHAEL!!!” I screamed again as I reached him and jerked him away just as it touched his leg!!!

I screamed frantically, “Everyone run! There’s a shark!”

Since I saw my kids were all moving away safely, I decided I should warn the next family down the beach! (I was certain they were at least 3 miles down the beach, Jonathan informed me it was only 100 yards. Same thing.)

Warn them I did. . .

I, with zero coordination and a total lack of grace, struggled through the water to the beach and ran like a crazy woman, with my arms flailing around in the air screaming at the top of my lungs, “THERE’S A SHARK! THERE’S A SHARK! THERE IS A SHARK COMING TOWARDS YOUR FAMILY!! LOOK! THERE’S A SHARK! SSSSSHHHHHAAARRRRKKKK!!!”

I was not going to let that shark eat that family. I mean, I almost died trying to run through the sand while screaming because I’m so out of shape, but I was NOT going to let one of them die. Not on my watch.

I was going to be a hero.

The family started hurrying out of the water.

I felt pretty good about myself. . .

Until, I saw the “shark” had come a little closer to the beach. Yes, it was large. Yes, it was dark. Yes, it was going right towards them.

But Nope, it wasn’t a shark wanting to eat them at all.

It was a manatee..

A manatee. It was a beautiful, sweet manatee just interested in what all those lovely people were doing.

Whelp. . . I had to explain to this frightened family that I wasn’t just trying to terrify them. I was trying to save their lives.

Can I just say it’s hard to explain such information when you can hardly breathe from the sand sprint you just did?

It came out more like, “Thought. Shark. Touched. My. Boys. Leg.” (Gasp for air) ” Trying. To. Save. Your. Life. Thought. Shark. Going. Eat. You.” (Gasp. Bend over. Gasp!) “Sorry. Sorry. Manatee. Just. Manatee.” (Gasp!) “Have. Good. Time.” (Breathe, Kristin, Breathe.)

Then I turned around and walked slowly back to our boat, hoping my family would feel my pain and celebrate that I tried to do the right thing.

I should have known better. I came back to hysterical laughter! No one celebrated, they just thought it was the funniest thing they had ever seen! They were mostly just upset they hadn’t recorded all of it. Thanks guys. . .way to have your mom’s back!

We have laughed and laughed about that since then.

But I’ll tell you, my fear was real. I was frightened! I truly thought there was a shark about to eat my child and the other family.

The interesting thing is that our family missed a really special moment with a manatee because I reacted out of fear. If I had really looked and been knowledgeable about how a manatee moves, we could have had an up close and personal, once-in-a-lifetime encounter with an amazing animal!

This week, something happened in my life that caused me intense fear. A situation came up that appeared to be very much like a dark moving shadow coming right at me. . .surely ready to devour me.

Truth is, I panicked for a moment. I knew what was about to happen; it was coming to destroy me and my family. It was over. My imagination took control, and I knew exactly how it was going to all happen.

(Am I the only one whose mind can go from 0 to 100 in 1 second flat?)

It played out all in my head. I was afraid, and the more I thought about it, the worse my fear became.

Finally, (not first thing, like it should have been) I began to pray.

I couldn’t even remember where the verse was at the moment, but I heard in my spirit, “Cast down imaginations . .bring every thought captive. Cast down imaginations. . .bring every thought captive. Cast down imaginations. . .bring every thought captive. Do not fear.” (Which later I looked up. . .it comes from 2 Corinthians 10:5)

“Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of GOD, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

Suddenly, HIS peace began to flood over me.

Why? Because I suddenly realized that “giant, dark, shadow” had no power over me and that even if it was as terrible as it looked, greater is HE that is within me than he that is in the world. I remembered that perfect love casts out all fear.

The Lord was able to move in a miraculous way because I stopped and listened to HIM instead of staying in that fear (and potentially embarrassing myself like I did running down that beach!)

The very thing that looked so frightening ended up being such a huge blessing for our family. HE changed things this week, from fear to faith.. .because HE is faithful.

I have this feeling you might have some things you’re looking at that seem big, dark, and frightening, and it looks like they are coming right at you.

Maybe its financial, a relationship issue, COVID, cancer, your job, marital problems, mental health, sickness, political, etc.

I know it looks scary.

I know it appears that it’s going to destroy you.

I know it seems impossible.

But, I am a living testimony. . .HE is faithful.

Stop worrying. Stop being fearful.

Cast down imaginations. Bring every thought captive.

Focus on HIS promises.

And trust the ONE who can change the very thing that is frightening you into the greatest experience and testimony of your life!