“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;
though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.” Psalm 37: 23-24 ESV
One tiny hand gripped deep inside my own, another in the hand of my husband. Chubby legs danced in-between, steps uneven but oh so joyous. At any given moment, without the slightest hesitation, those little chubby legs lifted, and but for extraordinary balancing parental skills, all three of us risked a collision dive into the middle. We were just a slight distraction, a misstep away from a heap of scratches and scrapes. From behind we looked like a swerving, staggering, off kilter threesome.
- Parenting 101: hold on tight, and keep your balance.
- Parenting 201: watch for the mud puddles ahead.
That’s the way parenting was for us, and it’s the zigzag path most moms and dads walk. Because while most of the time it felt like we were ready for the sudden leaps and those dragging feet in the middle, sometimes they jerked us off course. We worried. We didn’t know what to do.
And, while almost all the time that little creature in the middle felt in control, we needed to be watchful for them and ourselves as well. Ready to steer around, to lift above.
“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way.”
Oh, but every once in a while, that little hand twisted and pulled away, much like we do with Jesus, Who holds our hand in His loving one. The delight of walking side by side, hand in hand turns independent.
I’ve mourned with those whose loved ones have wandered. I’ve seen the parental pain, felt that tender yearning, and I recognize in it the love of our heavenly Father toward us His children. How He must long for that hand to nestle again in His. How He loves the wandering child.
- Being A Child 101: hold on tight, and keep your balance.
- Being A Child 201: watch for the mud puddles ahead.
“One, two, three,” the voice of my husband counted.
Together we lifted our son. His knees bent. He scrunched at the waist. He flew up and over the puddle under him.
Bubbling laughter and squeals of delight came from the center. In the exhilaration of the flight, he didn’t even recognize he’d given up control. In fact, on his own, he would have headed straight into the mud. He would have found fun in the squish. However, eventually, glee would have given way to wet, scraped and soiled.
“though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.”
Maybe in eternity I will be able to see all the times the Lord lifted me with His loving hand from stepping into muddy waters, I don’t know. Perhaps I will recognize the mercy of His hand raising me above all the disasters that could have been. It may be that I will weep for the times I twisted and turned, pushing His hand from mine.
- Walking With Jesus 101: hold on tight. He is your balance.
- Walking With Jesus 201: watch for the mud puddles ahead but know, He will lift you high.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV
You can be sure, His hand is outstretched toward you because He cares for you.
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