May. 8, 2008 - No Training Wheels?
Today, Angel wanted to have her training wheels taken off her bike! So, since Daddy has a three-day weekend and would be able to help her, he said that he would be glad to. Off the wheels came!
We would hold her seat and run with her up and down the block. I'm not sure how many times we did this, but I can tell you - I am so out of shape 
. She did well until we let her try on her own. Our tough little cookie fell so many times, I lost count at 25! She bravely got back up and got back on - only to fall again. Her perseverance and doggedness were inspiring. How often do we give up on hard things? We may fail but how often are we willing to get back on and try again? Why do we lose the tenacious attitude of youth?
I thought of this today as I sat with my Ladies Bible Study group. We are going through Martha Peace's The Excellent Wife. We are on the chapter on Submission. I know that this is a very touchy subject in today's world. The very word submission has extreme negativity attached to it, as well! If someone is described as submissive they are thought of as weak and easily taken advantage of. The very idea of submitting to one's husband in today's marriages is widely frowned upon. Most Christian women who "submit" to their husband's are thought to be backward and hindering the woman's liberation movement!
While woman's roles in the home have been grossly diminished and those who chose to be stay-at-home moms are thought to be lazy and without motivation; God never changes and neither does His Word. The greatest calling a woman could ever have is to be a wife and a mother! What other profession has the benefits, the perks or the lasting and possibly eternal value? As moms, it is our God-given task to love out husband and our children. To hang in there even it is hard and seems like it is impossible. Those are the times that we need to rely on God and His strength to get us through!
Submitting to our husbands is not an easy task - mainly because our husbands, unlike our Heavenly Father, is at best a sinner! They will fail us, they will hurt our feelings, they do things that we don't think is right. But, God has called us to lovingly support them and encourage them. It is not always easy to get back on after we have been hurt! It is not always easy to try again when we know we will fall again. But, that is what we as wives and mother's are called to do. Lovingly get back on and try again and again! Never give up!
And, just like my daughter with her training wheels, we as wives and mothers are given training wheels - ones that never have to come off!! Our Heavenly Father is our Protector and our Guide. He never fails us or hurts us! The times we fall are the times we go it alone! So, while a child gets excited about taking off their training wheels and growing up. I will hold on to my training wheels!
Just something to think about...
