Maranatha Voice

My daddy was right

By Ranjith C. Samkutty

Ranjith, son of Professor Ezhamkulam Samkutty, narrates a touching incident through which he learned a valuable lesson

This happened in 1992 when I was twelve years old. One day, my American friend Matthew and his father invited me to go canoeing (boat-riding) with them. Matthew was about my age, and he was one of my best friends in our local church.

When I heard about the canoeing trip, I was very excited. I really wanted to go, for I never had the opportunity to go canoeing before. Matthew said that they would rent a canoe (small boat) and we three would paddle thorough one of the rivers in Louisiana.

I requested Matthew's father to ask my daddy for permission to join them on this trip.

Our two families were very close, and we Attended an English church, since there were no Indian churches in the city. Matthew's father was a good mechanic and electrician, and he had helped to do many repairs in our home. I knew that if he asked, my daddy would agree.

I did many chores for my parents, such as washing the car, vacuuming the carpet, mopping the kitchen floor, and cleaning the backyard, in order to please them.

Finally, one Sunday, Matthew's father asked my Daddy to allow me to go with them for the trip.

There was a pause for a few seconds.

My daddy, being as safety conscious as he is, said "no." Matthew's father tried to explain to my daddy that canoeing is not dangerous and that there are lifejackets and safety equipment that would ensure a safe ride. However, my daddy was not convinced and stuck to his word "no," which I had heard so often.

Daddy's decision made me very sad. I had never gotten a chance to go boating, or even fishing. I felt that my daddy was trying to take away all my fun.

When Matthew and his father went canoeing, I was in a gloomy state of mind. I sat in my room, thinking of all the fun my friend Matthew and his father were having riding in their rented canoe.

Three days later, Matthew and his father came back from the trip. However, the news was not good. Matthew's mother called us on the phone and told us that they almost faced death on that canoeing trip, and that they had lost their video-recorder in the experience.

She told us that as they were on the canoe, it tilted over, and Matthew and his friend fell over from it. The river was very small and narrow, but the current was very strong. There also was a waterfall in the area. The swift current took Matthew down the narrow river, and the waterfall was very close by. Matthew was separated from his father about a hundred feet away. He would have been carried down the waterfall and would have died, but he grabbed on to a tree stump that stood in the river. His father swam over to him and rescued him. Their video-recorder had already been swept down the waterfall.

As I heard about this incident, I realized that my daddy's decision about the canoeing trip was right. I also realized that some of the advice our parents give come from God's mercy.

God knew that this incident was going to occur, so he spoke through my daddy. Matthew knew how to swim, and that was why he was able to catch on to the tree stump. I never learned how to swim, so death would have been certain, if I was in the canoe.

I now realize that my father has better insight into the character of other people. A few months ago, Matthew's father said that he drove his car to Atlanta at the speed of 80 to 90 miles per hour. The permitted speed was only 55 miles per hour. My father had the ability to figure our from the conversation that Matthew's father has an aggressive personality. My father also noticed that Matthew's father is highly intelligent person, but equally a risk taker. I was too young to read other people's personality from their actions.

Children may feel that parents put too many restrictions, but sometimes their restrictions could save our lives.