The Dipnet

A simple child's dipnet can teach you a lesson you will remember for the rest of your life.

When I was five years old I wanted a dipnet. Not just any dipnet but a Large dipnet with a long handle, so I could catch fish in the creek that flowed behind my house. My father took me to the store and bought me a small, child sized dipnet, appropriate for my size and age. The handle was long enough for me to sweep through the creek and (hopefully) pull up minnows, crayfish and other small creatures found in those waters. I was not happy with the small net, still thinking I would be hauling huge finned behemoths from the creek, but I HAD a net, now it was time to fish!

I putzed around in the creek, catching fish, salamanders and the occasional water strider. The dipnet worked well, it was doing it's job of entertaining a boy during warm summer days. While I was exploring one day, I noticed a wrack of debris in middle of the creek. It was composed of tree branches and other flotsum which had washed down the creek and settled into a pile of debris, smack in the middle of the waters. Poking up from the pile was the unmistakable handle and rim of a Large dipnet, just waiting for me to claim as my prize. My prayers had been answered.

Yippee! I shouted as I threw my small dipnet into the creek, watching as it floated downstream. Jumping onto the pile of debris, I triumphantly pulled the Large handle up only to discover that the net was broken and ruined. I looked around for my small dipnet but it had disappeared forever down the creek.

I learned the hard way, never count your chickens until they are hatched. Don't discard something useful until you are certain it has been replaced by something just as valuable. Take care of what you have and cherish it.

The creek still held my attention the rest of the summer, but I was limited to wading and trying to corral fish with my hands, I missed my helpful dipnet and never got another to replace it. In life, sometimes you only get one dipnet, use it wisely.