Archive for November 2013

It doesn't matter how fast or how slow you climbed; what matters is that you made it to the top.

Last year, I was watching kids at my church. One of the girls was very timid and got scared easily. Her name is Adyson.

When we were playing outside on the playground, she wanted to climb up what we liked to call, "the green thing." It was just one of those little sloped things with holes to put your feet in. According to Google, the official term is “climber.” Now, to me it was really quite small and not a big deal to climb. But to Adyson, it seemed HUGE and really steep!

So, I told her that I would be there to make sure she doesn't fall. She took the first step and then another, with my guidance. But suddenly, she stopped. She didn't know where to put her foot next. She started breathing heavily and I could tell her heart was racing. She was in a panic. But I was there to help her feel safe. I just kept saying, "It’s okay. I know you can do this. There are just a few more steps. You're almost to the top." I pointed out which hole to put which foot in when she got confused, and that really seemed to comfort her.

It took her quite awhile to get to the top that first time, but she did it. Sure, she was slow and got really scared along the way and sometimes lost her footing and slipped a little bit, but she didn't quit. She didn't give up. She never asked me to help her down. She stayed strong and she listened to my instruction. After that, she climbed it over and over again, getting better every time, but still slow and uncertain.

After she climbed it a few times, I told her, "You were really scared the first time you climbed that, but now you know you can do it. It's really not that scary after all." After saying those words, I really took them in. I began to think, "Why don't I take my own advice?"

I have some fears that don't seem rational to others. A fear of things like getting a job or going to school. Or, in a nutshell, growing up. Sometimes I'm slow and timid and easily frightened, just like Adyson was. But since I'm older, it's in a different way.

In a sense, I have my own "green things" to climb (or fears to face), and have begun to climb them, a few steps at a time. Sometimes I get scared and pause for awhile, but I hope that I won't ever be the type of person to quit.

There are some people in my life who encourage me to live to my potential and who accept me despite my fears, while others are impatient and have too high expectations for me and make me feel pressured to move along faster in life.

Those who accept me for me really inspire me. I hope to bless other people in the same way and I strive to be patient with everyone.

There are some like Adyson out in the world, climbing slowly and getting scared along the way. But there are also others that bound up every "green thing" in their path and don't even think twice about it, so when they meet someone who is slow and scared, they don't know how to handle that person. They don't understand that some people have a harder time in that area than they do.

As I was talking to my mom about all of this, I also thought of another comparison. Adyson wasn't able to climb the green thing on her own. She needed me there to comfort her and guide her and encourage her. I made her feel safe and loved. I felt so happy when she made it to the top for the first time because she listened to my instructions and followed them and she trusted that I wouldn't let her fall.

That description… Who did it make you think of? For me, it was God. God is so happy when we follow his instruction and trust him. In that situation, Adyson had me, but now that she's older, she doesn't need me anymore in that way. But she does need God, like we all do.

God is the one who's there to cheer us on and encourage us to follow Him and comfort us when we're scared and guide us when we get lost and confused. He keeps us safe and helps us to stay strong, even through the scary stuff.

As it says in God's Word:

I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. – Proverbs 4:11-13

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. – Psalm 32:8

Adyson couldn't fully rely on me because I'm imperfect, but God is perfect. He can catch us when we fall. Because we will make mistakes and fall. But God is always there to pick us up and dust us off and help us try to climb again. Every time.

Now, to those of you who climb slower like I do, always remember that God is with you and even if others aren’t patient with you, God always is. And for those of you who face your fears with confidence, please understand that everyone climbs their “green things” at different speeds and in different ways.

And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. - 1 Thessalonians 5:14

It doesn't matter how fast or how slow you climbed; what matters is that you made it to the top.