I found my way to the coffee pot this morning and had time to reflect on the past week before I began dragging kids out of bed. I felt like I needed my old Eagle megaphone to announce that Spring Break was officially over and we had to get up for school. I purposefully planned a sugary breakfast knowing that we would need an extra dose of carbs to get us all moving and motivated. Looking back over the past few days, I thought…What a great spring break we had. It was full of fishing, bike riding, and playing a funny charades game at the kitchen table. It truly was a blessing to have everyone home and happy to be together. (I can only recall one or two sibling squabbles and none resulted in spankings.)

The highlight of the week was when Bosque, our 5- year-old, caught his first fish all by himself, casting included. He is the one in the group that is quite content to sit on his backside for long periods of time; therefore, a natural fisherman in my book. Unlike his older brother who has to be kicking over an old rotten log or wading around on the muddy bank of the lake hanging onto a tree branch, Bosque can just squat down on one knee and wait patiently like a professional angler for any sign of a bite.

We had several friends over on the day of the big catch. When we discovered he had a fish on his line, we all yelled in unison, "Reel it in, Reel it in, don't let him go." Watching Bosque's face was just priceless as the bass came towards him. It was not a big fish to us, but it was a big deal to him and a big fish at that. Every muscle in his body seemed to get involved as he worked the fish in. Sweat beads dripped down his dirty, root beer stained cheek. He planted his legs shoulder width apart and anchored himself to the ground for the task at hand. There was a variety of cheers, shouts, and sincere applause when he held his catch up and posed for a picture.

I could not help but laugh this morning again when I replayed the whole event in my mind again and thanked the Lord for the week I had shared with my family. I opened my Bible to Psalm 139 and discovered a parallel that was worth sharing because it talks about how God hems us in. We all need the Lord to reel us in closer to Him or even hem us in at times. It is so easy to stray and even intentionally break free from His loving hand. I do not want that! I have been there and it is no fun.

I am praying for a man in town who is really fighting a daily battle to stay reeled in you might say. He is recovering from years of abuse and bad decisions. He has tried so many times to get his life on the right path, but has often managed to break loose from what God has rightfully planned for him. He sadly and painfully again finds himself in the pits of life and consequently miserable. Another friend is in a destructive cycle of an eating disorder. Oh, how I pray for her that she turns to the Lord so that He too can reel her in and hold her tight. Turning to Jesus is the only solution for every need! Nothing else works. There is no other path that is worth taking.

Psalms 139:5-10 says "You hem me in - behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of a dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me. Your right hand will hold me fast."

Oh, how I want to be hemmed in! I lived so many years outside of God's purpose for my life and it was wretched mess. Whether what you are facing during this particular season of life seems to be too big or maybe even too small to bother with, the Lord is strong and capable of holding and guiding you. He will not let you go if you turn to Him and seek His ways!