Looks Can Be Deceiving

Thursday

Dear Elsie,

I’m so glad you are learning to swim. One day you and I will be able to swim in the sea together and I will be sure to teach you to respect the dangers of the ocean. Today I swam in a riptide. We went down after 8am and I was glad to see the nets ready to be put out. It took me a full 5 minutes to get beyond the breakers some of which were enormous. Diving below them, I took one at a time and eventually made it beyond them. Out of depth, in a churning sea I was comforted by the sight of the shark spotters out in the boat to put the nets out. If I got stuck, I could just hold onto the net to get back in. I eased my way towards the barrel. When I finally got there, I turned to see where the net and boat were in relation to me, only to discover the boat had returned to the shore and the nets wouldn’t be taken out after all. The sea was too rough.  So there I was stranded out by the barrel. I began to ease my way back to the beach, but going straight wasn’t going to work. The only way to conquer a riptide is to go with the line of the waves, so I followed the breaker line. I lay on my back and just relaxed, kicking gently and just enjoying the sea. Progress was slow, but eventually I got to a place where I felt I could swim towards the shore. That I did and soon arrived in the surf. I’d had enough. Twas good to get safely out.

It was interesting swimming in a riptide. Looks can be deceiving. The sea may look safe but there can be underlying currents that are dangerous.  Stay calm, don’t panic and swim along the breakers.

Home for paw paw breakfast. By then Courage and Ruth had arrived. The windows were filthy after the recent winds so Courage cleaned ours first. What a difference. Ruth came dressed in clothes that were way too hot for the day. When she complained of being uncomfortable,  I dug out some cooler wear for her. Courage took a photo.. that colour really suits her. Stacey made the top.

The Seaview Apartment got cleaned. David’s unit got cleaned and Julian’s bed got clean linen.  It was a profitable day all round.

David had a quiet day. His company is giving him 4 hours each Saturday and Sunday and he doesn’t have to get up at 3am. It’s from 8am on Saturday and 7am on Sunday so he’s happy about that. He has been more active today but he is still feeling his legs are 3 times their normal weight. They are super heavy so everything happens very slowly. He says his energy levels are unpredictable and it’s a weird surreal feeling looking at himself in the mirror and looking perfectly normal – in fact looking pretty good – but feeling entirely without energy. Looks can be deceiving. Isn’t that the truth? We look at other people and have ideas their lives are better than ours, but looks can be deceiving. Everyone has struggles. Every single person goes through something sometimes. It’s good for me to remember this.

Psalm 73:23
Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand.

The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Gran xx 🙂

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