At last, the first signs of spring! The ice in the river was finally breaking up!
Peter, age six, was having fun jumping on the ice cakes near shore. He was pretending they were islands, each one a different size, and some were almost too small to stand on. He saw another small one farther out. Would he be able to get to it? At last he jumped his way over to it. It was pretty small, so he sat down on it so he wouldn’t lose his balance. This one was floating slowly away from shore, so slowly he was hardly aware of it. At first it was fun, but soon Peter discovered he had floated too far out to jump back to another ice cake near shore. He knew he was in trouble and began to call for help.
At home, Peter’s mother heard his cries. She called to her neighbors as she ran to the river. Several followed her. For a few moments they watched fearfully as Peter drifted slowly away from shore.
Peter’s mother, a believer in the Lord Jesus, quickly prayed, asking Him to help them. She believed the verse, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:11<<To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.>> God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)). How she loved her son!
“We must find a boat,” the neighbors shouted. Another neighbor nearby saw what was happening and quickly pushed his rowboat into the water.
Peter was far out from shore now . . . his floating ice island was almost in the middle of the river! His mother called to him, “Sit still, Peter; don’t move!” She knew if he moved, he would tumble into the icy water. Peter obeyed.
How important it is to obey our parents. But to obey God’s voice calling to us to accept His Son Jesus as Savior is even more important. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)). Children, don’t put it off; accept Him now before the current of sin takes you far away and you are lost forever.
God’s eye was on Peter, and the rescue boat reached him in time. He was pulled into the boat—safe at last! Oh shore, his mother rejoiced and thanked the Lord Jesus for His goodness and mercy to Peter. And he was so glad to be safe in his mother’s arms.
Wouldn’t you like to be safe in the arms of the Lord Jesus and out of danger?
ML-03/18/2018