The Parable of the Bike

This was one of my MOST frustrating experiences as a parent, thus far. I know you more "seasoned" parents will probably scoff at my naivety, but it just pushed me to my limits on this particular day. It was one of those "weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth" type experiences. And then, right in the middle of it all, I realized, "How often do I act like this too?"

We moved from our very flat neighborhood to pretty much the tippy top of the mountain, almost 5 years ago. We used to go for daily walks in our old neighborhood. My oldest, who was 4 at the time, would take his "big wheel" on these walks. He would cruise along ahead of me as I pushed my newborn daughter in the stroller. I trained him to wait for me at the corners so we could cross the street together. 

Well, it was the first couple days at our new house in the hills, and we needed to get out. I told Ben that we were going to go for a walk around the block. He asked if he could bring his bike. I told him that it would be too hard with the hills. But he insisted he bring it and he assured me that he COULD do it. 

"I promise."

I explained to him that we'd have to come back up the hill and if he got tired, I couldn't carry his bike for him because I'd be pushing Miriam in the stroller. "Ok, Mom. I will do it."

Alright, then.

Off we went and I heard little squeals of delight as Ben flew down the hill on his bike. I was wishing, at this point, he was wearing more protective gear than just his helmet. The anxiety-ridden mother in me wished I had wrapped him in bubble wrap to keep him safe. 

We rounded the second corner and it was all up hill from here on out. It predictably got too hard for Ben's little legs to peddle that big-wheel up the hill. He started out with a little whimper. The whimper turned into comments of how it was getting too hard. 

"Ben, remember I told you that you'd have to push your bike if it got too hard."

"Ok. ok." He muttered as he stepped off and started to push his bike up the hill. We were probably about 300 yards from our home. I could see the porch, and I knew we were almost there. I was about parallel with the stroller at this point, as I was pushing with all my might to get that baby up the hill. 

This was about the time the weeping and wailing began. From Ben...not me (although, I was tempted). I took a BIG DEEP BREATH, and tried to remind myself that he was only 4. "Ben, just leave your bike here...."

Oh man, BIG mistake. He wouldn't even let me finished my thought before he went into hysterics. I was GOING to tell him that we would come back for it later, or that Dad could pick it up on his way up the hill from work. 

Nope.

In Ben's mind, if he left that bike now, it would be gone forever. I longingly looked at how very close we were to the end. But I also knew the last 100 yards were going to be the steepest. I couldn't carry that stupid bike. As his wails got louder, I began to worry my new neighbors would see that I was an abusive mother of some kind. I tried a few times to calmly explain to Ben that he could just drop it and leave the bike there and we could go home, get some water, get a popsicle, and we could come back for it later. But he had it decided in his mind the way it is and he would not listen.

I don't think I have ever been so frustrated with another human being. I had WARNED him before. I had coaxed him along, I knew the way, and I knew that he could just drop it and I could lead him safely home.

Sound familiar? It hit me in the moment. How often do I act this way to God? He knows the hills in my life. He knows how steep they are. He knows how much farther I have to go. But how often do I think I know better? And I lose my trust in Him. I can be loaded down with a burden that is holding me back. A burden that isn't even necessary. But now it's too hard to carry, and I JUST. WON'T. LET. GO. 

It's happened in times of life decisions, like having children, job changes, and home buying. It's happened in the form of faith crises: when something just doesn't jive with me, but I'm unwilling to be patient or to see if from another view....or seriously JUST DROP IT. It SO often comes in the form of losing my patience with other people. I just think, "They're doing it wrong. Why don't they just change? Why don't they just apologize to me?" etc.

Well, guess what. I NEED TO JUST DROP IT. 

I need to just trust God's plan and path. Don't overcomplicate things. Leave it behind and He will make things right. It's much easier said than done.

I love this perspective from Gordon B. Hinckley: 

"If he is earnest in his search, if he is willing to get on his knees and pray about it, the Spirit touches his heart, perhaps ever so lightly. It points him in the right direction. He sees a little of what he has never seen before. And with faith, whether it be recognized or not, he takes a few guarded steps. Then another, brighter vista opens before him."

 - Click here to read the full text -

Sometimes we just have to trust and take those first steps and then things will come into view and it will make sense. I'm still working on it, for sure. It's a good thing this life is a process. 

Do me a favor and comment below with your thoughts about walking by faith and trusting in God's plan.

Love, Aly