4 minute read
Last week, we took our five-year-old daughter Bomber to a nearby park so she could learn to ride a bike without training wheels. This was a big moment for her. Riding free, without training wheels, was something she’d seen her older sister doing for the last year and Bomber felt ready. She knew it wouldn’t be easy, but she knew the result on the other side would be worth it.
At the park, we pulled her pink, Disney Princess-spangled bike out of the back of our CR-V, along with Bomber’s bug-themed bike helmet. Once we found a level part of the paved path that ran around the park, Bomber got onto her bike and donned her helmet.
We gave Bomber a little bit of instruction which she seemed to hear, but it was also clear she just wanted to get going. So with no further ado, she started peddling.
Now of course, this being her first time riding without training wheels, there was no way she wasn’t going to make it without some help. So I ran alongside her—hunched down—with my right hand holding onto the underside of the bike seat.
Like any kid learning to ride sans training wheels for the first time, Bomber wobbled a lot, veering wildly back and forth across the wide sidewalk. Trying to balance a bike isn’t easy. Not crashing isn’t easy, either. It’s tough teaching your body and brain a wholly foreign activity. It’s a challenge. Especially for a five-year-old.
I could tell Bomber was nervous, but also committed. I could see it in her face and feel it when I saw her legs pumping up and down… but I also heard it.
As I ran next to Bomber, she kept saying something to herself over and over, over and over. I had to lean down to hear exactly what she was saying, but when I realized what she was saying, I could hardly believe it.
Riding along, eyes focused on the path ahead, she was saying—
Daddy’s with me, Daddy’s with me…
I can do this, I can do this…
Daddy’s with me, Daddy’s with me…
I can do this, I can do this…
(Note: I’m not making this up.)
*****
We all have to go through challenges, right? Things at work, things in relationships, things inside of us that aren’t easy. They require effort and focus while feeding our fear and worry engines. There’s danger involved (“what if this goes wrong?”) because the stakes are high. Some are things we have to endure, and some are things we choose to face because something better is on the other side of the challenge.
In those seasons, most of us have a tendency to grit out teeth and tell ourselves, “I can do this. I can do this.” Which is fine, I guess. But, well, honestly, it doesn’t get us very far. Why? Because it doesn’t bring any sort of assurance to us along the way. And we all need assurances.
The assurances we need aren’t “You won’t fail” or “This won’t be hard” or “Someone else will do all the work for you.”
The assurances we need are, “God’s for you.” “Jesus wants good things for you.” “Your Heavenly Father won’t leave you.”
We need to know that God’s in our corner and that He wants us to know He’s near in those times. He doesn’t put our relationship with Him on pause during those seasons so we can just get through a challenge. He actually wants our relationship with Him to flourish during that season. Why? Because He loves us fully and deeply and cares about us completely and truly.
What are you going through today? What’s your challenge? Are you just gritting your teeth, mustering your own strength so you can get through it?
Can I encourage you today (and, honestly, encourage myself today because I really, really need it) to take to heart the words of my little Bomber?
Can I encourage you to tell yourself what she told herself, realizing what she was facing was difficult, but the hand of her father was right there and he was with her every step of the way?
Daddy’s with me, Daddy’s with me…
I can do this, I can do this…