So we went to the pool today.
Jonah jumped into the pool unaided for the first time…
His laughter of accomplishment could be heard throughout the entire swimming complex…
Victory!
He did it half a dozen more times…
And then he saw the kids jumping off the diving board.
It seemed a bit daunting. He looked at the diving board. Then at me…
My first thought was “Jonah, NO!” But I never actually said it. It wasn’t a high dive, but to a 4-year-old, it may as well have been.
I was a bit nervous.
But there was not an ounce of trepidation on Jonah’s part.
He climbed up on the diving board, planted his feet firmly and (with hands over his ears) gave a triumphant roar that has become his rallying cry of freedom and boundary shattering. It echoed across the pool.
Then he yelled “Ready! Set! GOOOO!” And he leaped from the diving board into the pool without a bit of hesitation.
He may as well have been jumping out of an airplane.
This Journey is a bit like standing on the edge of the diving board.
It always looks farther down than it actually is.
We must approach it as Jonah did jumping into the pool…
Striding with confidence, we must stare down our fears, and with a triumphant roar, jump off into the deep end with both feet.
It may not be easy, but it is not impossible.
Love this from [Autism. From a dad’s eye view]