That Nasty Undertow

from the mom

Years ago I was at the beach with my mom and friends when an older teen girl was swept out in an undertow and nearly drowned. When we arrived she was out beyond the breakers and someone was running to get the Coast Guard. She was a strong swimmer but she was from the East Coast and didn't know how strong the Pacific can be. A small group of people were standing on the shore praying her in but knew she wasn't close enough for a successful rescue. She fought her way close to shore several times only to have a wave come and take her out again. She finally did make it in, nearly unconscious but still fighting. Minutes after she struggled up to shore on her hands and knees and collapsed the Coast Guard and an ambulance arrived. The bystanders who worked on her said it was close, but she would probably make it.

I remembered her this last week when it felt like another wave had slammed into us again. Maybe not quite as traumatic as a near-drowning, but I could relate to her exhaustion as she thought she had made it only to be pulled out to sea once again. I'm not sure why we've been so sick. I hope this is it for a very long while. I hope summer holds health, and while we're at it, I pray I never get sick at the same time my children are, ever again. This time our feet are on solid ground, even if some of us (Kyri, me) are still swimming through (hopefully) the last of another nasty flu virus. And I'm thankful for the angels who helped out along the way.