You Are the Boat and Jesus is the Boy

There was a young lad who grew up by the seaside. He was absolutely fascinated with boats. So he got a small block of timber and began to carve a model boat for himself. This boat was going to be just perfect, because it would represent everything beautiful that he had ever seen in boats.

When he was finished, he painted it his favorite color, and even put his own name on it. Then he rigged up tiny sails, and the labor of love was complete. But it would not be a real boat he realized, unless he put it into the water. So, down to the sea he went and watched proudly as it bobbed along on the waves. He was proud of it, and was so lost in his admiration that it was some time before he realized what was happening. He had given the boat sails and the wind was blowing it firmly but gently farther and farther away from him. He called out to it, as if it could obey him, but it was now under another influence. He watched in horror and pain as it drifted out of sight.

He was so upset that when he got home, he didn't sleep much for a few nights. Then one day as he was passing a toy store, he was jolted out of his depression by the sight of a toy boat in the window - and yes, it was his boat! He rushed in eagerly to claim it. But the storekeeper coldly dismissed his claims, saying that it belonged to him now, and if the boy wanted it, he would have to buy it. So the boy rushed home and told his dad. He asked his dad how much he should pay for the boat, and his father replied, "If you really need to get that boat, you will give everything you have to get it."

So the boy emptied out all of his savings boxes and ran down to the store with every penny he had. He dumped the money on the counter without even checking how much it was, and he rushed out of the door with his beloved boat. He rubbed it, he hugged it, and ran back home to show his dad. "Good on you!" said his dad, "so the boat is yours now." "It sure is mine!" said the boy. "I made it and then I bought it back, and gave all I owned to get it. It's mine for sure - only now it's mine twice over.