Look Mom, No Hands!
You ever think it is strange, the thoughts and memories that run through your mind at the strangest places and times? I know I do. For me, one of those places is church. I don’t know if I am easily side tracked or bored or the pastor says something that triggers a thought, or perhaps it may even be God stirring up something.
This past Sunday was one of those days. The worship was good, and the pastor gave a good message from 1 Cor 15:3-10. Strange as it was though, as the pastor was speaking on abnormal births and such, my mind began to ponder some interesting stuff! So I thought, why not share it?
It started with a series of mental questions: 1.) Does God have an expectation that we will not fail? or 2.) Does He anticipate us failing? 3.) How does He handle it when we fail? 4.) Does God ever give up on us? Now I know some of you theologians and Bible scholars are foaming at the mouth with a myriad of Scriptures to start quoting to me and mind you, some of them even raced through my mind, but where my mind went next was a total shock and what seemed like a forgotten childhood memory.
As I have shared before, I grew up in rural East Texas. For the first half of my life (up into Jr. High) we lived in a small community called Leverett’s Chapel and lived at the end of an oil/dirt road (for those of you unfamiliar with an oil/dirt road it is basically a dirt road and then a large truck sprays an oil based solution on top of it. Over time this gets impacted and has a similar effect/look of an asphalt road, just not the quality. Anyway, this road ran behind the little school (500 total kids K-12th). So I walked to school everyday. I can remember walking and seeing many of the other kids ride their bikes to school. Seems like ages ago!
The day in my life that came to mind was the day I learned to ride my bicycle. I remember it was a green Schwinn! It was used and had a few scratches, but it was mine! I remember pushing it and running beside it down the road, but unsure about riding it. When my dad got home from work that day and saw me, I guess he figured it was time to start riding. So I remember him setting his aluminum hard had, coffee thermos and lunch box down in the yard and walking over and said “On you go”. He held the bike steady as I climbed on. Then he started the push the bike and run behind and then wham. I crashed! What happen? He let go! Why would he do that. I scraped my knee pretty good and it was a bit bloody. I even started to cry! My dad walked over and said, get up and lets try again. We walked the bike back to where we started and on again. As we lunged forward, I fell again! I can remember that process several times and then all of the sudden, i remember I was riding! What an exhilaration! Then, i thought, How do I stop. Wreck and crash again! Strangely enough though by the time the evening was over, I was riding like a pro. Mom watched on and winched at every wreck!
It wasnt long before I became quite the bicyclist and even began riding without using my hands! I remember the first time I tried that, I ended up all tangled up around the handlebars and had a severe road rash, but then I tried again and mastered it. I was so proud, I even had to have my mom watch me do it! Funny, mom’s don’t have the same appreciation for such grand skills!
So as my mind pondered these things, I came to some conclusions:
My Dad encouraged me to step out ride!
My Dad steadied me as I learned to balance!
My Dad pushed me when I was unsure if I could do it!
My Dad picked me up when I fell!
My Dad helped me back on the seat!
My Dad knew I could ride, even when I couldn’t!
Then that one verse rolled into my mind that summed it up for me and I hope today gives you a word of encouragement as well:
Matthew 7:9-11 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 1f you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
Remember we are His image! All the best things about us are a reflection of Him. Think about how you love your children and all you would do for them!
Blessing.s on your day.
