A Run Through the Sprinklers

Today my little girl ran through the sprinklers for the first time. It was adorable. She's scared of water, so she has always refused to do anything more than put her hands at the farthest edge of the water. Today she actually ran through the sprinkler. Got her hair wet and everything. In fact, she got so soaked I had to come in and start the tub for her to clean up afterward.

While watching her run through the sprinkler, I turned to my husband and commented that she NEVER would have run through the sprinkler before we put her in swimming lessons. She has successfully completed her first week (out of two) of swimming lessons. The first day she wouldn't get in the water. After a whole hour of coaxing by Daddy and her teacher, she finally got in the water up to her ankles. The second day she got in and did what her teacher asked, but wouldn't kick or do anything active. By day three she was doing whatever her teacher asked, including putting her face in the water.

It's been amazing to watch her grow this week. We put her in swimming lessons partly because she said it sounded fun, and partly because we hoped it'd help ease her fear of water. Our hopes have been realized. She was put in a situation where she had the opportunity to face her fear, and she did. As a result, she is getting braver and braver in life in general. As parents, we are so happy about her progress. We worried about whether we had done right in putting her in swimming lessons after that first day. But today we knew we'd done right in the lessons when she ran through the sprinklers. What an amazing change in our little girl.

As I thought about all that while watching her run back and forth (still guarding her face but squealing in delight), I thought about how our Heavenly Father must feel. Some of our difficult experiences are consequences of our own actions. Some are the consequences of others' actions. But what about those difficult experiences that our Heavenly Father gives us because he knows we will grow from them and eventually be happier as a result? How happy it must make HIM feel when we grow from something difficult, but then later on use strength we gain to do something amazing? Just a thought. Maybe instead of asking God "Why me?" when we are faced with difficulties, saying "Thank you for the strength?"