The Bike Ride

God is so amazing to give me the blessing of parenting! If you have kids, then you will understand how much they really teach you and if you don’t have kids, then when you do, include learning a teachable spirit in your prayer list. (Actually, that’s a good word for all of us, with or without children.) Anyway, so last Thursday was beautiful outside. It was a clear, bright, and gorgeous day of like 65 degrees. A wonderful breath of fresh air in the middle of this January blah! So, I took Caleb out for a bike ride. He rides and I can get an extra workout walking and running beside him. He always gets excited because he is allowed to tell me where we are going and is no longer confined to the boundaries of driveway. We circle the cul-de-sac and head up the street. We make our way up the hill and stop. Caleb stopped at the top of the hill and looked at me with those big blue eyes and said, “Mommy, will you put your hand on the bar?” Caleb fell once riding his bike and ever since, he hasn’t wanted to risk the bike going too fast and falling again. But, this time I wanted to teach him how to use the brakes and be able to control his speed riding down the hill. So, I told him, “No, Caleb I won’t hold on to your handle bar, but I will show you how to use your brakes to go down the hill.” He said, “Okay.” So, I started walking forward and asked him to keep up with me and told him that I would show him how to use his brakes. Immediately he said, “Mommy, NO! Will you please just put your hand right here?” and pointed to the handle bar. I said, “Caleb, no, I will not hold on to the handle bar. Trust me, I want to show you how to ride down the hill. I’m right here, Honey. I won’t let you fall. I’m not going to leave your side.” He said, “No, I don’t want to go down.” I said, “Caleb, don’t you trust me? Do you really think that I would let you fall?” He said, “No.” Suddenly, this conversation started to sound so familiar. I couldn’t contain it anymore! I started laughing hysterically! Every single word was perfect. Every single thing that Caleb said sounded like everything that I had been telling God for weeks now. Every single word that came out of my mouth couldn’t have been a more precise way for God to manifest His own words to me. He’s been screaming at me for so long, “Don’t you trust me! Do you really think that I would let you fall? I’m right here besides you and I’m not going anywhere!” Thank you, Lord, for teaching me through my stubborn son. Thank you, God, for revealing yourself in a new way to me. Thank you for reaching me in my point of need. Yes, God, I trust you! Yes, Lord, your word is very clear about the promises that you have for your children. Yes, Lord, you are right beside me and you will never, never leave me, even for one second. My trust is in you alone!

Isaiah 41:9-13 (MSG)
I pulled you in from all over the world, called you in from every dark corner of the earth, Telling you, 'You're my servant, serving on my side. I've picked you. I haven't dropped you.' Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. "Count on it: Everyone who had it in for you will and up out in the cold - real losers. Those who worked against you will end up empty-handed-nothing to show for their lives. When you go out looking for your old adversaries you won't find them - Not a trace of your old enemies, not even a memory. That's right. Because I, your GOD, have a firm grip on you and I'm not letting go. I'm telling you, 'Don't panic. I'm right here to help you.'