Nov 14, 2010
The wind had been blowing most of the day. Dad had not been able to go out on the boat to fish because of the wind. Instead he had spent time fixing and cleaning his equipment making it ready for when he could go out. For the last couple of hours the room had smelled of linseed oil as Dad sat in front of the fire applying a fresh treatment of oil to his oilskin coat. Dad did this regularly. I remember asking him why he rubbed that smelly oil into his coat. Dad explained that it made the coat water proof and that kept him dry. He said if you can stay dry you can stay warm. Nothing will stop you from getting the work done quicker, than being soaked through to the skin.
As it got close to evening Dad put on his freshly oiled coat and headed down to the docks to check on the boat. This was a normal routine that him and his partner Jason did every evening when it was storming or a chance of a storm. They would check to make sure the boat was secure and everything buttoned down and ready for the storm.
Just after Dad left it had started to rain and by the time he got back it was pouring down. Dad came in, hung his coat by the door, took of his boots and exclaimed, “I hope Jason will be OK. That coat of his hasn't been oiled for I don't know how long and by the time we were done he was soaked through and shaking like a leaf from the cold”.
Life can throw at us many curves and rough times. Is your coat oiled? In order to stay dry as we go though life's storms we must be prepared. That means taking time to do those things that will add strength to our protection. Just like the old sailors would spend time before the storm to oil and prepare their equipment, so we must prepare ourselves BEFORE we are faced with hard times. Life has a tendency to throw us all kinds of unexpected challenges. It is so important that we do all that we can to prepare in every way that we can. We have been promised that as we prepare the Lord will strengthen us in every way needed for our success.
We all know the things that we should be doing, reading scriptures, attending church, doing our callings, praying and so forth. One thing that always comes to mind when I think of strengthening ourselves is found in recognizing God's hand in ALL things. We are such a blessed family. Let God know how grateful you are for all that he has done for us. I can testify that the Lord wants to bless us. He wants us to have a wonderful joyful life. The Lord will do all that he can to help and strengthen us. Things do not happen by coincidence the Lord has a plan for us. The Lord loves all of us. I love all of you and I am so grateful for each of you.
Love ya lots
Love dad
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