Catching Love

Liam loved spending afternoons by the lake. He would sit on the grassy bank, watching the fishermen glide across the water in their small wooden boats, casting their nets and waiting patiently for their catch.

His grandfather often joined him, bringing along a book to read while Liam watched. One day, as the two sat together, Grandpa said, “You know, Liam, there’s something special about fishing.”

Liam looked at him curiously. “What’s so special about it, Grandpa?”

Grandpa closed his book and pointed toward the fishermen. “When you fish, it takes patience and care. You can’t just throw your net anywhere and expect a good catch. You have to understand the water, know where the fish are, and be gentle. It reminds me of how we live our lives.”

“What do you mean?” Liam asked, tilting his head.

“Well,” Grandpa said with a smile, “we’re not all fishermen, but we all cast nets in a way. Every time we speak, every time we act, we’re putting something into the world. What we put out there—kindness, love, or even anger—draws people closer to us or pushes them away.”

Liam thought for a moment. “So, it’s like… if you’re kind, people want to be around you?”

Grandpa nodded. “Exactly. When we treat others with care, like Jesus has taught us to, we make a difference by spreading his message of love. People see the good from God in us, and it inspires them to be good too. Just like the fishermen bring in their catch, we can bring something meaningful into the lives of others.”

As they sat quietly, Liam noticed a young boy near the shore struggling to untangle the string on his kite. Without saying a word, Liam stood up, walked over, and helped the boy fix it.

When he returned, Grandpa smiled knowingly. “That’s a fine net you cast there, Liam.”

Liam grinned, unsure exactly what Grandpa meant, but feeling a warmth in his chest all the same.

From that day on, Liam began to see every word and action as a chance to bring a little of God’s light into the world—one small, thoughtful cast at a time.


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