Grace at the pool

it's late now.

a gorgeous day.  first day at the pool.  the kids playing, me reading.  close my eyes, feel the heat, i'm back in ethiopia.

after that crazy night, zoe had one of her shining moment- reminding me that she does have legs to swim, hands to clap, a voice to speak, and a heart that warms others.

i heard her talking to a young woman in the pool.  she was 22 and hadn't learned to swim so she was cooling off by walking around the shallow section.

"why are you walking instead of swimming?" asked zoe.

"i don't know how to swim."

"perfect! then i can teach you- come on- it's not that hard!" says zoe.

"we'll that would be something because no one has ever been able to teach me how to swim!"

there they were on the side of the pool- zoe is breaking it down, giving her the steps, telling her to hold the side and kick, now to let go of the side and kick.  zoe was calm, encouraging, and clear.  at one point the woman said:

"maybe i need some floaties to hold me up."

"no worries" says zoe, "the water will hold you up."

after about 30 minutes i see this woman doggy paddling around the pool.  zoe is following her, her little head bobbing to keep above water as she claps for her student.   so i'm clapping too, and this woman she is just smiling.

zoe says, "now how do you feel?"

"great!" she says, "i can't believe it!"

"well i knew you could do it!" says zoe.

there's my girl.  my unpredictable, mixed up girl who acts like a 2 year old then like a 20 year old.  a girl who can't get herself to let go of her fear of the vacuum and gets overly frustrated by losing her pool toy, can gently, patiently, teach an adult to swim.

i'm reminded again of her gifts- that they're in there- that she can shine in such a special way.

and there, in that afternoon at the pool, was the Grace.