Day 134 -- Fishers of Men in Icy Water

I went fishing this morning.  My son suggested it and I was hesitant.  It was COLD out there.  But then I realized that the opportunity of being with my children, my sons would be limited since there are a numbered amount of day when I can do that, so we went.  We went back to the same place we were about one month ago, in December.  That is the trip I slipped  and went in the water up to my waste.  I was bleeding, cold, and my clothes were freezing for so was the temperature.

One of my sons wears about sixteen layers when he goes fishing even in the middle of the summer, so I politely asked if I could borrow a dry pair of socks, a dry sweater, and perhaps a dry pair of gloves.  We were fishing so there was never any thought of going home, just "Live with it father," and so I did.  There was water running out of my boots, so I took them off, wore a holey pair of socks from my abominable son with all the layers, and sat there and shivered.  It was a good trip, yet cold.  The one who let me borrow the  clothes caught seven fish and he was extremely happy.

Well this morning while fishing I remembered how cold it was the last week of December and was so very careful not to fall into the water, since there was ice on the surface of the water.  We had to break the ice to get our fishing lines in the water, and once again our group was rewarded for braving the cold and ice, we caught 8 among all of us.  Fun, yet cold.

Right after we got there, I broke my line and had to repair it.  It was six degrees so I was so slow getting back into the icy water, (Not me, my fishing line.) while everyone else was fishing,  my fingers didn't seem to work very well. 

I thought while fishing that we were fishing  like the disciples of Christ.  He challenged them to be "fishers of men."  That is what we shall be doing in a few months, being fishers of men.  Often the time spent on missions involves activating those less active for some reason.  It is no less missionary work, it is still His work, and I am looking forward to whatever we can do in His work.

I do hope that there is not too much icy water where I may actually fall in, but I am willing to do that also. The tools used will not be hooks and line, bait, but will be love, service, compassion, and a plate or two of cookies.  It will be a joy being a fisherman and woman.