The dream began to unravel when I was asked to stop holding Alexandrea while I was skating to ensure her safety after 10 strides. Then I began to question my parenting when I realized my perfectionist, Isabella, went from being just a perfectionist to a frustrated perfectionist. She could not skate perfectly and did not even want to try. I mean not at all. It was horrible. Needless to say I let the skating dream go. I never took the girls back to the ice rink. Until tonight.
Our church was having a family skate night, and I thought it's been three years- why not try again. On the way I began to prep them, reminding them, "you fall a lot in skating. That's just part of it. You won't be perfect right away." As those words were coming out, my mind was thinking this could be a quick night. I was anxious getting on the ice with the girls. Isa stayed true to her independent self, and wanted to hold boards and not my hand. After half a trip around she decided to get brave and let go. She was doing pretty well-- wobbling here and there but catching her balance. And then it happened! She lost her balance and hit the ice. I thought well this is it. But I was wrong. She got up and fell again, and laughed. The rest of the night she wanted nothing to do with me; she was going to conquer this thing on her own. She spent most of the night on the ice getting back up again.
It was in one of those moments I, again, was challenged by my daughter. She was making friends as she encircled the ice. Some would pass her and others she'd skate around. She would fall and they would ask if she was ok and so on. As I watched her fall and get back up and fall again, she grabbed the boards and pulled herself up, looking back to see a new friend fall. Not quite up herself, she let go of the boards with one of her hands and with a smile, she reached back to help her up. And I thought "Isn't that life. Isn't that the point. We're going to hit bottom sometimes. We're not perfect, but while we're struggling to get back up why not hold onto what we know is solid with one hand and reach back to help another. Because it wasn't so long ago we were there, and who knows how long it'll be before we're back down.
Life is a lot like the ice-skating rink. There are those consumed with getting up and going on only concerned about themselves, and there are those who take a moment to pause in their struggle and help someone out. Let's face it we're not going to be perfect before we help someone. But there is a key to helping: if Isa wasn't holding the boards she would have landed right on top of that girl. I'm thankful that I have a God stable enough to hold me up while I reach out a hand to help another. He knows I couldn't do it in my own strength.
So if we find ourselves "down" this week, let's take a moment to pause, to first make sure we're holding tight to Him, and with a gracious heart reach out, smile and remind someone he or she is
not alone.
Galatians 6:1-3
Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.
