It seemed as though Opo’s mother had been killed, and because she was so lonely, the young dolphin turned to people for companionship. At first, she followed boats, loving to have her back scratched with an oar or a broom. Then she began to swim around with people who were swimming at Opononi beach. No one knows who was the first to get the courage to touch the wild dolphin, but after Opo learned that swimmers wouldn’t hurt her, swimming among the people at the beach became a daily habit.
She learned to enjoy the company of the swimmers, and they enjoyed the antics and games of the dolphin. One of Opo’s favorite tricks was to find a bottle on the bottom of the ocean, toss it as far and as high as she could with her mouth, then swim “faster than lightening” to catch the falling bottle on her tail. Onlookers would cheer when Opo did such tricks, and she seemed to enjoy the applause.
Opo really liked swimming among groups of young people. She seemed to especially enjoy it when the children of Opononi held their school picnic at the beach. The children all waded out chest deep into the water and formed a circle, holding hands. It was as though Opo understood what the children wanted her to do. She swam into the center of the circle to perform tricks with a beach ball.
Opo seemed to sense those children who were gentle and avoided those who played too roughly. Opo’s favorite swimming friend was 13-year-old Jill Baker, who often swam at that beach. “Whenever Opo saw me go into the water,” Jill said, “she would leave the other swimmers and come to me.” Opo would often dive down and let Jill get on her back and then take her for a ride.
Soon Opo became very well-known, and people traveled long distances to see and touch the friendly dolphin. The store owners near the beach noticed that their business picked up. To honor the dolphin that attracted the visitors, they set up a sign at the entrance of the village. It read: “Welcome to Opononi. But please do not kill our happy dolphin.”
Opo won the love of so many people that they got together to pass a law forbidding anyone to hunt, capture or hurt any dolphin in the bay.
Only a few days after this law was passed, Opo didn’t show up to play at the beach. Volunteers went out to search for her, but they did not find her. Later a clam digger found Opo’s body on some rocks. Apparently, she had been the victim of an underwater explosion.
The townspeople buried Opo on their beach, setting up a monument over her grave in memory of their happy and lovable friend.
Among all of God’s creatures, dolphins are some of the most friendly and sociable. When God made them, He gave them a heart which needs others to make them happy. Opo, who had probably lost her mother, found companionship with the swimmers of Opononi beach.
When God made you, He gave you a heart so large that only God is big enough to fill it. Even our best friends, the kindest of brothers and sisters, and the most loving parents, although wonderful in themselves, aren’t enough to fill a child’s or an adult’s heart. Only our Maker, the loving Lord Jesus, is able to satisfy our hearts.
“Abide in Me, and I in you” (John 15:44Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (John 15:4)) are the words of the Lord Jesus. How do we abide — or stay — in Him and He in us? First, we need to know Him as our Savior. Once we admit that we are a sinner and accept the salvation He offers us, then the Lord Jesus is our Savior. We then can enjoy loving Him, this Man who loved us so much that He died for us.
Messages of God’s Love 10/24/2021