By: Carissa lovvorn
Over spring break, my family and I spent a few days in Pigeon Forge, TN. We enjoyed a fun but tiring day at Dollywood, walked along the strip in Gatlinburg, and even found ourselves lost in one of the tourist trap mirrors mazes. We each got to do a little something that we wanted to do. My only requests on the trip were to eat a piece of taffy from one of the candy stores, ride the train at Dollywood, and stop along the river so we could put our feet in.
We managed almost everything, but the morning we headed home, we still hadn’t made it to the river. We decided to take the scenic route, hoping to find a place to stop. At one turn, my husband remembered a spot from his college days called “The Sinks,” a beautiful place along the river with a bluff and a deep area perfect for jumping.
Being the fun dad that he is, Garth wanted to show the girls how “cool” he used to be. He climbed the rocks, stepped to the edge, and waited for their countdown. The girls cheered as he jumped, then burst into laughter at his shocked reaction to the ice-cold water.
You’d think after witnessing his sheer look of panic, it would deter our girls from wanting to do the same. For some reason, it did the exact opposite. While I wasn’t about to let our 9-year-old try, our oldest, Isabelle, was determined. I reluctantly agreed, as long as Garth stayed in the water ready to help her.
Isabelle followed him up, listening closely as he explained where to jump and how to swim against the current toward calmer water. He went first and called to her. I held my phone, ready to record. “One… two… three…” She didn’t move. Fear kept her feet firmly planted in place. She let other swimmers go ahead and tried several times but just couldn’t take the leap.
Eventually, Garth climbed back up and told Isabelle it was okay—she could try again when she was ready. They started down, but she paused, turned around, and said it was time. Once again, Garth went first. To my surprise, this time, she actually jumped.
Isabelle swam hard against the current toward her father, but she didn’t have to go far, because he was there, just as promised, waiting to help her through.
That moment felt like a reflection of our walk with Christ. How often do we linger at the edge, afraid to trust what we cannot see? And yet, our Heavenly Father goes before us. He waits, with open arms, ready to help us through the rushing waters of life.
During this Easter season, I invite you to seek the Lord in prayer about what He is calling you to do. Whether it’s a new beginning, growing your family, offering forgiveness, or accepting Him as your Savior. Don’t be scared to take the leap. He is there, ready to provide comfort, guidance, and strength. Get ready, get set, jump!
Blessings,
Carissa Lovvorn
