God's Coaching #188

God's Coaching #188

Have you ever counted how many times you can make a stone skip across the water? When you find the right lake or river with the right rocks, you can spend hours skipping stones. Flat stones are best. They can skim and zoom across the waves. If you’re really serious about your stone skipping, you should head to the Mackinac Island Stone Skipping and Gerplunking contest every July. It’s one of the biggest contests in the nation. (Gerplunking is the kids’ version of the contest.)

Russell “Rock Bottom” Byars has won the Mackinac and other contests multiple times. But his most rockin’ accomplishment came closer to home on the Allegheny River north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In July 2007, Russell set the stone-skipping world record with 51 skips. He estimated that the stone traveled 250 feet. The stone-skipping master threw 40 times that day, but he never bettered his first throw. He didn’t have to.

What’s the Score?

Guinness World Records used video to verify Russell’s record by counting the rings on the water from each skip. You know how the ripples spread out in circles across water. Something similar happens in our lives. It’s called the ripple effect.

The Bible tells us that “the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children” (Psalm 103:17). God’s love and faithfulness are basically ripple effects that spread through people, especially families. And our actions have a ripple effect too. Think of our actions as the stones we throw that send out ripples to other people. We can spread God’s love and goodness if that’s what we “throw.” Or we can spread hurt and pain if we’re tossing out negative rocks. Choose your stones wisely, and make sure they keep spreading godly ripples.

On the Ball

Go skip some stones and watch the ripples spread. Come home and do something unexpected and kind for each of your family members. See how your kindness ripples through your family.

Coach’s Comment

The love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children. Psalm 103:17