I love going to the beach. I’m not much about actually getting into the water, especially if I can’t see my feet.  However, I do love to go out and sit on the waters edge where the water will just slowly roll over the top of my feet while I bask in the sun. 

This week my “thoughts” return to 

several years ago being at the beach and watching a gentleman walk behind what seemed to be maybe a four or five-year-old toddler. The toddler was a few feet ahead of him, but not so far that He could still get to him. 

Along the way, the toddler bent down and picked something up, you could tell it had, what appeared to be a wad of string hanging from the bottom of it. 

The toddler was not a bit afraid of it, had no concerns with what it was, he was just drawn to it, to pick it up. As he stood there within a minute or two the dad started running towards him screaming at him to put it down, put it down. 

I now look towards the little kid and he is standing there with this item in his hand screaming and crying. What I learned was the item he was holding was actually a jelly fish. 

As I later meditated over the days event and thought about that little kid I found it intriguing that it wasn’t until the man began screaming at him did the toddler become fearful, and I would guess was what provoked him into squeezing the  jellyfish that caused him to get stung.

As I ponder over it today and think about how fear can attach itself to you.  You see, that toddler had no thought in the world that it was dangerous, or that he could get stung from it or even that he needed to be afraid of it.

It was the man, who out of his own fears for the child being stung reacted when he began hollering at the little fella to put it down. I believe it was the intensity and his voice that rocked that little fellas belief system.

Fear is described as a noun and states, fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.”he is prey to irrational fears.

I think it’s important that children be taught about things that can cause harm to them. I even believe it’s important they are taught the difference between good and bad fear. 

Joshua 1:9 reads: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 

2 Timothy 1:7 states: For God gave us a spirit NOT of fear but of power and love and self-control (my favorite) there are others, but my point to this “thought” is fear can be paralyzing, it can be damaging and harmful but if we learn to put our trust in the Lord, channel fear correctly, He will protect us. Fear does not have to cause defeat in us.