Hey! I forgot my bubble gum and balloon in the car, thought little Davey as he noticed his older brothers and sisters munching on their candy and playing with their balloons. Hurrying back out to the car, Davey began to hunt for his treasures. But the thrill of being alone in the brand-new Chevy changed his interests. He began honking the horn, exploring dials and levers. Soon, his big sister Amy came out to see who the noisemaker was. She scolded Davey and took him out of the car, and for the moment his pranks
were stopped.
But as soon as his sister went back into the house, Davey got back into the car, and this time he locked the doors behind him to be sure no visitors were going to ruin his fun. The next time the honking started, Mother came out to stop Davey’s mischief. But Davey was more experienced now, and he started shifting the gears. As Mother arrived, her new Chevy with the 2½-year-old driver coasted by her and continued down the hill. When just one tree was left between the car and the backyard pond, Mother hoped with all of her frightened heart that the car would crash into the tree. To her horror, the car rolled right by the tree and on into
the pond.
Mother’s scream brought Davey’s 15-year-old brother Gary running out of the house. Realizing what had happened, Gary quickly picked up some good-sized rocks to try to break the front windshield. Davey was now truly frightened and the car was beginning to fill up with water. The pounding of the rocks was only cracking and not breaking the safety glass, and the car was sinking quickly in the icy water of the pond.
Davey’s eyes were fastened on his big brother, hoping he could save him. Though only a pane of cracked glass was between them, hope was quickly disappearing. Then, Gary’s frantic efforts ended as the car disappeared beneath the water.
By this time, the shore was lined with people. As the car disappeared, only Gary seemed to hang onto any hope that Davey could still be saved. But the crowd was worried about Gary. They tried to persuade him that it wasn’t worth it to keep going after his brother, and they offered him warm blankets to wrap up in after his time in the freezing water. But soon, Gary couldn’t take it. His brother was down in the freezing water, and he loved his brother. He was weak from cold and the effort he had already given to saving his brother, but he couldn’t be stopped. Managing to slip away from the huddle of people, Gary tore away to the boathouse searching desperately for anything that might work to break the windshield. He found a sledgehammer handle. Then, deaf to the pleas of the crowd, down went Gary again.
After several dives to bash through the back windshield, he finally succeeded in making an opening in the glass. Now able to enter the car for the first time, Gary went in, groping anxiously for the small body. He came up for air a number of times, breathless, tired and empty-handed. The crowd tried to get him to give up, but down he went again, maybe for the last time. Entering the car again through the broken glass, his hunt went on — reaching and feeling, desperate and determined. Finally, his fingers found Davey’s hair. With all the strength he had left, Gary exited out of the broken glass, bringing the limp body of his brother to the surface with him. The crowd, expecting the worst, were amazed to see two heads coming out of the freezing water. The sight was miraculous! But, how was Davey? Swollen like a balloon, grayish-blue and with cuts on his face from the windshield glass, could the pathetic-looking little thing possibly live?
The team from the ambulance worked over him, and they rushed Davey off to the hospital. And Davey lived, thanks to his big brother Gary and thanks to God who gives and keeps life.
As you think about the love Gary had for his brother, I hope you know that the Lord Jesus loved you far more. He loved you enough to die on the cross to pay for your sins, if you are one who believes on Him. “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it” (Song of Solomon 8:77Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. (Song of Solomon 8:7)). In spite of all Jesus suffered on the cross, His love for you wasn’t quenched or stopped. He still loves you. Have you believed His love and accepted Him as your Savior?
Messages of God’s Love 7/21/2024