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Themes Good Works A SUMMER OF SPLASHES My sister could do a back dive. My mother could do a back dive. Even my grandpa could do a back dive. But I couldn't. Two summers in a I spent most afternoons at the end of the diving board in our backyard pool. I stood backward with my heels over the edge, hugging it with just my toes. I stretched my arms up over my head - then froze. "Just bend your knees and jump!! But make sure you arch your back!" my sister would say. "Jump! Come on! I'm counting to ten. Then it'll be my turn again!"
"...eight...nine....ten!" Ten always came, and I hadn't jumped. "Next time, I'll do it!" I'd move to the beginning of the board, take three fast steps, and do a front handspring into the clear water of the deep end.
My sister would do another back dive. Then, my turn again. "...eight...nine...ten!" There I was, stuck in the same position. This time I resorted to a cartwheel. I was good at cartwheels. But I really wanted to do a back dive! "...eight...nine...ten! My turn!" Over and over again, all summer long.
"Girls, one more dive each, and then it's bedtime for both of you," Mom announced one July evening at dusk. My sister went first. Splash! That was probably her eighty-ninth perfect back dive of the day! My turn. Ha!...no one counting to ten this time! I tiptoed to the end of the board and took my position. All eyes (three pairs now, as my father had joined the audience) were on me. I squeezed my eyes shut and shoved my arms up into the darkening sky. "She won't do it," my sister sang. "Shhh!" Mom's tone was gentle. "She can do it." "Just try it, honey." That was Dad's voice. "Arch your back..." All at once, I bent my knees and launched myself backward into what felt like outerspace. Th-wack! I came up sputtering chlorine-water. My landing hurt so much I forgot to blow bubbles! My sister giggled. "You forgot to arch your back!" I could do cartwheels, and I could do handsprings. But neither helped me do a back dive. I knew how to stand. I knew what to do with my arms. I knew I needed to arch my back. But these didn't help me dive! I wasn't much different than cornelius, was I? He tried to do everything "right." He prayed , fasted, worshipped, and gave alms. However, his good deeds would not take him to Heaven. What are you depending on to take you to Heaven? Only the "blood of jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin," (I John 1:7).
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