A Miraculous Ride with God

Pattie Wade

My life has been a roller coaster ride, and there is a special ride I want to tell you about. You see, a roller coaster starts out slow and ends slow, much like the day my mother, my 13-year old daughter Christina, and I went to the beach. It was a beautiful, sunny day on the Gulf Coast in Bradenton, Florida. My mother, fondly known as Gracie Grandma, could not walk far, so I parked as close to the picnic tables as possible. Christina and I helped Mom to the table and put a cushion on the bench. We laid out snacks and a drink for her to enjoy while reading her book. She loved life and was happy to be out of the house enjoying it.

        We heard the waves rolling, which was exciting for Christina and me. Our area is usually calm, other than during the hurricane season. There were no warning flags, but the waves kept rolling in. Mom was settled and content with her book and encouraged Christina and me to go ahead and enjoy the waves. So, we did. The water was great and we bobbed up and down with the waves, laughing and talking. I glanced at Mom and she was fine, reading her book.

        The roller coaster was now going up the first hill, and down with thrills, like the waves in the Gulf. First slow . . . then fast.

        Christina and I never ran out of things to talk about, so our chatter continued as we bobbed up and down. I can’t remember how much time had passed when I realized that Christina was quite a bit further out than I was, and she wasn’t talking anymore. She was in trouble! I thought I could go out to her, but it was difficult. I swam and swam, but it didn’t seem like I was getting anywhere. I can swim, but I’m not a great swimmer. Yet, I had to get her.

        Christina remembers going under and struggling up for air and then going under again. I still thought I could get her and together we would get out of the water and go sit with Mom. That didn’t happen! What we did not know was that there was a strong undertow dragging Christina out. As I worked hard to get her, I became breathless. Finally, I got to her and neither of us could talk. There was no strength or air left for talking. Christina’s head slipped under the water again and as she grabbed my shoulder to pull herself up, I went under.

        Now the roller coaster was starting through the dark cave. What would happen next? That’s it! The unknown. Spiritually, this means you must have full trust in God. There is nothing else but Him.

        The roller coaster finally emerged into the light.

        We both came up to breathe, constantly struggling for air. Christina told me later she thought she was dead. In my heart, I cried out to God for help. I managed to wave my arms and yell, “Help, Help,” but no one seemed to see or hear me. I truly felt as though my life would soon be over and I prayed earnestly to the Lord, “I know you are here. Please save Christina. She is only a child and I have lived a full life.”

        In my heart, I know He hears and listens to my prayers, because His Word says so. I said my last prayer, as we were both still fighting the strong current and waves. We were weak and couldn’t go on.

        I glanced at Mom again and realized we had drifted far to her right. Still no one seemed to pay attention to our distress. I felt the end was near, but I had to keep Christina up and she must live. “Please, Lord, let my daughter live. My trust is in you.”

        At the moment we both felt it was all over, I saw a fit older couple coming toward us. The man went to Christina and the woman came to me. Not one word was spoken.

        The roller coaster was coming down the last hill and slowly coming to a stop.

        The couple helped us out of the water, right up to the sand. Christina and I both fell face down from weakness. We lay long enough to regain our strength and catch our breath. Finally, we sat up and looked at each other in pure amazement. All we could do was hug one another. I’m not sure how much time had elapsed during this recovery. But, we looked around and stared at each other again. The spiritual and emotional roller coaster ride was almost over, but we had to thank the man and woman who saved us.

        We looked everywhere for them and asked other beachgoers if they had seen them. No one had seen an older couple. Where did they go? No one saw us in trouble. No one saw the couple bring us out of the water. No one noticed us lying face down in the sand. No one saw anything!

        What an awesome Father God we serve. This was truly a miraculous ride with God and His unfailing goodness to those who trust in Him. We believe it was a special time for us alone. We experienced fun, then fear, and then total trust in Him. We both truly know nothing has happened in our lives without His loving eyes watching over us and His outstretched arms holding us. The man and woman were God’s angels.

        We walked back to the table where Mom was seated. Feeling numb, we were in a daze; an awesome daze. Neither of us told Mom of our near-death swim, because we didn’t want to worry her. Gracie Grandma passed away two years later and never knew about our miraculous ride with God, but she did know Him.

        Looking back, as we got in the car and drove away from the beach on that beautiful, sunny day in Florida, it was as though none of this had ever happened.     

Pattie Wade says: Writing is new for me. I have many life stories to share and I'm attempting to write them. Thank you for considering my roller coaster ride for publication in Doorways Memoirs.