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“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;
though he may stumble,
he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”
Psalm 37:23-24 NIV

We take a few steps and then we forget we can walk…

I was reminded of this when spending time with my grandson one day, a few years ago. Since earlier in the week he had taken those precious first steps, I began to imagine the future. Watching the video of his shaky steps, I started dreaming about what was yet to come! Those moments when I would walk in the door and he would walk up to me to be scooped up in a big Nana hug! We could go walking on the beach together before snorkeling, or someday watching him walk his beautiful young bride down the aisle!

We have so many things to look forward to.

But (Imagine the sound of the rewind button here) we were not there yet. My daughter did a good job of setting my expectations before I arrived at their house, reminding me that he had just taken a couple steps earlier in the week but none since then. Riley and I started the day with a quick diaper change, followed by floor time to play with his toys. I took a few minutes to pick out his clothes and then sat on the floor to dress him. Busily digging for toys in his toy box, he saw me sit down and immediately walked over to me. No chance to build up the anticipation, no fanfare or thought, he just walked over to me.

And then for the next two days he crawled, everywhere he went.

Crawling, that’s what I have been doing this week.

My slump began when I started feeling rundown. It never ceases to amaze me how when I am physically not feeling well the emotions seize the opportunity to take over. I miss my husband, I’m tired of hurting. Going back to the way things were, looks so much better. I don’t want to do this anymore…those all too familiar feelings of despair.

God pulled me out of the pit of despair by reminding me of my grandson’s first steps and how those first steps are similar to the first steps in our grief journey. We often take those first steps with no anticipation, fanfare, or thought. And many times we want to go right back to crawling. We are afraid, unsure, and we don’t want to fall.

But God sees the whole picture.

He knows that, in order to for us to accomplish His purposes, we have to take those first steps, and the next ones, and the ones after that. Not every step is easy, and sometimes we will stumble and get hurt. But step by step, we will continue the journey. We will run into the arms of our Father and get the best hug ever. New adventures and new life events await us. We will know the great I Am in ways we could have never known Him before. My dear sisters, there is so much yet to come.

We need to remind each other to keep walking.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You so much for teaching us to walk, for making our steps firm, for holding us in Your hand. Thank You for giving us the endurance and the encouragement to complete this journey. Father, please help us love one another, encourage one another, and strengthen one another, that the world may see You in all that we say and do, each step of the way. We love You Father and we walk this journey for Your glory. Amen.