I waterskied for exactly 60 sec. this week. I didn’t realize it would shock my grown children until they scrambled to find a cell phone and video the “event”. I keep forgetting they have no memory of my youthful zooming days (being raised in a HOT state made water central to recreation). To their credit, they recovered quickly enough to cheer their hearts out for their (aging) mama (who was in fact aging every second she was up), and were (in my humble but perfect opinion), by far, the most supportive boatful of people on that lake. If sound carries over water, Canada heard them.

But it wasn’t enough that I got up. Nooo. They started pointing and yelling for me to cross the wake! … cross the wake! Are they kidding?? Until that exact moment, I hadn’t skied in years, and was really only doing it right then just to make sure I still could. (I want to know when my body ages out of certain activities … and skiing happens to be one of them.)

I’m convinced children can collectively get their mama to do almost anything, and mine are no exception. Their enthusiasm is soooo contagious and soooo persuasive  — soooo I did it! I don’t know who was more surprised I stayed upright – me or them.

Then, being the experienced skier I still am (in my head, if nowhere else), I knew to let go of the rope if I wanted any chance to sink semi-gracefully,  while I was ahead, so to speak – not wanting to be tails up.

That wake was not the only one I crossed this week, and if you are reading this, chances are you are crossing a few yourself. I crossed one Tues, then again Wed, as I went first to a counseling appt then a psychiatrist appt with my struggling husband. Thurs brought another wake. I’ve been skiing behind my husband’s emotional boat for almost 3 decades now, crossing back and forth over the wake of his moods, in and out of his paranoia, his denial, his attention….

I know he wishes it were different for me, for the kids. He has a picture in his mind of what it should be like, could be like, what he WANTS it to be like … we both imagine smoother waters behind his super powered jet boat. We both PRAY for that.

Have you noticed, there aren’t many road signs on waterways? “No Wake Zone” is one of the few. I’m here to tell you it applies to life and emotions, not just waterways. There are some places where you must slow down the boat until it creates no wake. Period. If it does, there will be problems. Every mama learns this:  Slow Down so there is no wake behind their lives for their children to tumble over.

If I were in charge of Life’s Regulatory Signs (which I am not) I would put a “No Wake Zone” smack dab behind every husband’s boat.  Let all that strength, authority, and weight be put to good use …  smoothing out the water for the women and children behind him.

That day on the lake, I saw a totally new way to ski – in fact, the way I have to ski life. A dad zoomed past us, wakeboarding — WITH his little 3 year old girl standing on his big board, tucked safely (as safe as can be, going behind a boat) between her daddy’s knees. Her chubby little arms wrapped tightly around his strong legs. Her safety was completely dependent on her daddy’s strength and skill to navigate the waves.

Now to Him Who is able

to keep you from stumbling (over wakes in life),

and to make you stand (on His wakeboard)

in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,

To the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord,

be glory, majesty, dominion and authority,

before all time and now and forever.

Amen.

Jude 1: 24-25

Holding tightly, standing between His knees,

Joan