Our Infallible Pilot

The other day I was at the harbor, and saw a ship launched—she slipped easily into the water; the people on board shouted; the ship looked clean and mirthful, she was freshly painted, and her colors flying. But I looked at her with a sort of pity, "Poor ship!" I thought, "you are now in port and in safety; but before long you must go to sea. Who can tell what storms you may meet with hereafter, and to what hazards you may be exposed; how weather-beaten you may be before you return to port again, or perhaps you may return at all!" Then my thoughts turned from the ship to my dear child. It seemed to be an emblem of your present state—you are now, as it were, in a safe harbor; but by and by you must launch out into the world, which may well be compared to a tempestuous sea. I could even now almost weep at the resemblance. But I take courage, as my hopes are greater than my fears. I know there is an infallible Pilot, who has the winds and the waves at his command. There is hardly a day passes, in which I do not entreat him to take charge of you. Under his care I know you will be safe. He can guide you, unhurt, amidst the storms, and rocks, and dangers, by which you might otherwise suffer—and bring you, at last, to the haven of eternal rest!

This is a taken from a letter written by John Newton to his adopted daughter Betsy who was the same age as my own daughter.  He expresses the feelings of a parent who realizes that his child is growing up and will soon leave "safe harbor."

This has been on my heart this week as my daughter is away for her June visitation.  She has had to grow up in ways that neither of us expected, and there will be more to come.  But I am thankful for our infallible Pilot who determines our course and steers our vessel.  I'm thankful to see her grow in the grace of God because of the storms she has weathered.  I miss her dearly when she is away, but to borrow John Newton's words, 'tis grace that brought her safe thus far, and grace will lead her home and not just back to her earthly home.