Have you ever been fishing? Fishing can be a topic which polarises people or at least that is my family experience! Half of my family enjoy fishing while the other half won’t step into the boat or eat fish!

My father was an ‘old salt’, even into his eighties he loved to go fishing. Our family holidays were always locations where he could fish. He wasn’t a selfish man, he just loved to fish, a relaxing hobby which commenced in his teenage years.

The love skipped a generation, however, once my father’s fishing mates had returned to God, I became the deckhand – the family boat was really just a glorified tinny!

At this time of year, some children have commenced new friendships while others are just beginning to establish friendships. Fishing and making friends have a lot of in common.

To catch a fish you need the right bait, time and patience. The same can be said about making friends, however, the bait is a little different and it is a matter of spending time to develop the friendship.

Parents can help children catch friends by helping them to understand the need to use the right bait. To make friends you need to use bait such as turn taking, smiling, inviting others to play in a game and by being fair.  

Jesus was a great ‘fisher of friends’, kindness was one of his greatest qualities. When you are talking to your child about making friends, focus on the actions and words that your child uses rather than the actions and words of their potential friends. Perhaps some of their friendships will last a lifetime. 

Friendships have developed through the many acts of generous deeds and kind words during our recent Townsville disaster, a great example for children and adults alike.

It’s a great time of the year to go fishing!

God bless

Geraldine