FATHER HOLDS THE LINE by Mrs. A. Nason Price

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 17, 1901

FATHER HOLDS THE LINE.

By Mrs. A. Nason Price

MRS. A. NASON PRICE.

In the broad, deep river just in front of our house, one morning I noticed a dark object struggling in the waves. Upon going near I saw that it was a child—a boy about ten or twelve years of age. I was surprised to see him struggling in the water and still making no apparent effort to get out, although he was not far from the shore. I saw that his head even went under at times. Rushing toward him, the mystery was solved. The boy was learning to swim. Wholly absorbed in the work in hand, he paid no attention to his situation, although every moment it seemed to me that he would be engulfed. I could not see why he did not try to escape from such imminent danger; but upon going still nearer, I saw that his father stood upon a bridge above, holding a cord which was fastened about the boy’s waist. This was the secret of his fearlessness; he had confidence in his father’s love, his father’s ability, power, and willingness to keep him from danger.

What a lesson for us! Do we have such confidence in our Heavenly Father’s love and care that we are willing to venture into the broad stream of sin and degradation,—not for amusement, but to rescue perishing souls? Do we, with the confidence and the trust of a child, know that we are perfectly safe because our Father holds the line?