It was a frosty winter morning when Dad suggested: “Who would like to go ice swimming with me?”
“Ice bathing?” Hanna called out in surprise. “You really want to get into the ice-cold stream?”
Tom giggled. “Dad does it every year! He says it’s healthy and wakes you up.”
Hanna wasn’t sure if she saw it the same way. Nevertheless, they followed Dad to the stream, eager to see if he was really doing it! The water glistened under the low winter sun, but the air was already cold. A thin mist rose from the water.
Dad stripped down to his swimming trunks, took a deep breath and resolutely got into the water. “Ooooh, that’s cold!” he shouted with a laugh.
“Wow!”, Tom marveled. “How can you stay in there? I’ll stop the time!”
Hanna took off her shoes and rolled up her trouser legs. “I at least want to try it with my feet!”
“Me too!” shouted Tom and stood next to her.
As soon as the water touched their skin, they flinched. It felt like a thousand tiny needles were dancing on their feet. But after a few seconds, they realized that it wasn’t so bad.
“It’s cold, but also kind of fun!” laughed Hanna, wiggling her toes in the water.
Tom grinned. “It’s like a test of courage!”
Hanna sat down on a stone, shook her feet dry and pulled her little Bible out of her jacket pocket. “This reminds me of a verse,” she said and read it aloud:
‘Be courageous and strong! Do not be afraid, for the Lord your God is with you.
Tom nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly! Like Peter when he wanted to walk on the water. He was scared at first, but with Jesus’ help he made it a few steps.”
Hanna looked at the calm water and felt the cold inside her slowly give way to a cozy warmth. “Maybe God also helps us with other things that scare us at first,” she said thoughtfully.
Tom put on warm socks and grinned. “So we’ve shown our courage today too!” Dad even managed 2 minutes in 5 degree cold water!
With warm tea in their hands, they made their way home. The cold had kept everyone awake, happy and strengthened their immune systems, but more than that – it had shown them that with God by their side, they could be much braver than they thought.
Dad & teacher Bernd (founder of the website)
Bible passage
A suitable biblical passage on courage and trust can be found in Matthew 14:28-31, where Peter walks on the water:
Matthew 14:28-31 (Schlachter 2000): “Then Peter answered him and said, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. But he said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the ship and walked on the water to come to Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind, he was afraid; and as he began to sink, he cried out and said, ‘Lord, save me! But Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and took him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
This passage illustrates the trust we should have in Christ when we face new or challenging situations. The children who courageously put their feet in cold water also show a small step of trust and courage. 😊
