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Bike Lessons: The Art of Falling

By Bonnie Gray • October 20, 2009 • 17 Comments

Last weekend, Hubby and I witnessed our son’s rite of passage.

Our soon-to-be four year old TJ was about to bust out of toddlerhood officially. Within a couple hours, my camera would capture a memory card’s worth of digital pixels of a little boy pedaling on his bike. Without training wheels.

Hubby was a great bicycle coach, breaking down the process in bite size chunks TJ could digest.

With his Daddy’s steady hand on the bike seat,  our little boy coasted with confidence.

After some practice runs, the moment came to release TJ hands-free.

Inevitably, the crash of bike and boy hit smartly onto the pavement.

As tears and frustration grew with each fall, Hubby and I signaled to each other.

It was time for the parent huddle.

Should we call it quits for today?  How can we bring this to a happy close?

As we stood there, an eureka moment hits… Padding!

Mom, Dad, toddler and baby quickly load up into the car and speed over to Target.

With a bag full of elbow pads, knee pads, and a pair of fingerless gloves, we race back with excitement.  It’s all about the gear, people!

Love Works Best

bikegearonAs we suited him up for action, our little guy jumped up and down, rearing to get back out there.

It worked.  Without the fear of falling, a switch was flipped.

As we cheered him on, our son morphed into a two wheelin’ triumph, eyes and smile, flashing with pride.

When we’re afraid of failing, friends who pad us with love can make a world of difference.

Well meaning encouragement to stop worrying or helping analyze the situation can only go so far.

When it comes to learning new things, love works best.

Whenever you find yourself trying to “ride a bike”, take a break and put on some padding.

A Friend To Catch Our Falls

bikeglovesIt usually takes me a good number of spills before I remember to grab a friend, to break my fall.

Hi, wanna grab a cup of coffee?

I’d like some company.

I’m trying something new.

For the times I forgot about fellowship, trying to white knuckle my way through, I get pretty scraped up.

Then, I come to my senses, get together with a friend and I remember how good it feels to laugh and smile.

The art of falling requires the special provision God’s placed in friendship:  love.

It’s a blessing to have friends we can trust in, so we can dare enough to fall.

And if we’re hard pressed to find that friend, we need to look no further than Jesus, the Friend who sticks closer than a brother.

New experiences come packaged with some falling.  ridingfree

But, how sweet it is to ride.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends…

I no longer call you servants, because servants do not know their master’s business.

Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

This is my command: Love each other. John 15:9-17

Is there a friend who might benefit from your love?

Can you think of a friend you can have a cup of coffee with or just chill?


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17 Comments

  • Reply Tweets that mention Bike Lessons: The Art of Falling | Faith Barista -- Topsy.com October 20, 2009 at 5:56 am

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Billy Coffey, JustPeachyBabyBlog. JustPeachyBabyBlog said: New Post: Bike Lessons: The Art of Falling http://bit.ly/1VaWk4 […]

  • Reply Helen October 20, 2009 at 6:20 am

    I am blessed in that I still have my mom with me. We were never “friends” when I was growing up. She was mom, and she was in charge. But now that I am an adult, she is my best friend.

  • Reply Heather Sunseri October 20, 2009 at 6:35 am

    Ahhh. What a sweet post, Bonnie! That’s how I think of my online buddies these days. I lean on friends like you as I stumble down the tough path I’m on. Wonderful encouragement. Thanks!

  • Reply Maureen October 20, 2009 at 8:01 am

    Great post! I love the connection of falling off the bike to padding to friendship. 🙂

  • Reply *Michelle* October 20, 2009 at 8:15 am

    As always…..visiting you is a breath of fresh air and encouragement!

    Congrats on celebrating a new chapter in TJ’s life….bring on the ramps! (oh sorry…that’s the motocross/extreme sports mama in me, LOL)

    xox
    *~Michelle~*

  • Reply Candy October 20, 2009 at 9:03 am

    I love this post! Friends are such wonderful padding in the falls of life.

  • Reply Bridget Chumbley October 20, 2009 at 9:53 am

    Woo-hoo… Go TJ!

    Bonnie, this post was exactly what I needed to read today. You said:

    “And if we’re hard pressed to find that friend, we need to look no further than Jesus, the Friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

    These are words that hit very close to home… Thank you!

  • Reply Billy Coffey October 20, 2009 at 11:01 am

    Wonderful words, Bonnie. And like Heather, I seem to lean on my online friends quite a bit. Good cushioning.

  • Reply Anne Lang Bundy October 20, 2009 at 11:36 am

    I’ve tended to be one of those devil-may-care types who doesn’t like taking the time to put pads on myself, but will break my neck running to make sure others are wearing them, or to even be the padding for them.

    I suppose as I get older and realize I’m not quite so invincible, I need to be more careful about putting on that padding. Problem is, old habits are awfully hard to change, and padding for my size isn’t always easy to come by …

  • Reply Mari Mayborn October 20, 2009 at 1:02 pm

    Bonnie, What a gift for seeing God shine through everyday life. Thanks for wrapping up a little bit of goodness and sharing the gift with us. I always look forward to your posts!

  • Reply katdish October 20, 2009 at 2:15 pm

    I love your analogies, Bonnie. And it just so happens that I got an email from a friend I haven’t seen in a long time today.

    So I’m taking your advice and going for some coffee and cushioning. Thanks.

  • Reply Chris Sullivan October 20, 2009 at 3:11 pm

    Awesome Bonnie. Several of players accepted Christ today and I tried to explain this same concept to them. I told them it isn’t always going to be easy, but know we are here not to judge but to encourage you, help you along the way and pick you up when you fall. When we go it alone is the most dangerous.

  • Reply Sarah Salter October 20, 2009 at 3:12 pm

    Bonnie, I LOVE this! Love it, love it, love it!

  • Reply Rebecca October 20, 2009 at 4:08 pm

    Friends can be such good padding if we let them. I love this analogy, Bonnie. And congrats to the little man on moving to a new ability!

  • Reply Bonnie Gray October 21, 2009 at 2:52 am

    @Helen: That is such a blessing to have a mom as a friend. Not every one has that, Helen.
    @Heather: I feel the same way about my online buddies, like you, too Heather. Amazing how God creates fellowship over digital lines. 😉
    @Maureen: It’s how friendship feels. Padding.
    @Michelle: Thanks, Michelle. I say the same about your blog! .. So, you are fearless against scrapes and bruises, huh?!
    @Bridget: They did for me too, Bridget.
    @Billy: Yep, that’s ditto for me, too. For sure, Billy.
    @Anne: Ah.. I think we’ve got countless number of friends online already to make up ample cushioning for you, sweet Anne!
    @Mari: You’re so encouraging! Thank you, Mari!
    @Katdish: Lucky friend, she is indeed. You always make me smile. Even when you’re serious like today on your blog. 😉
    @Chris: Wahoo!! Chris, that is SO awesome!! They are blessed to hear sound words of encouragement, rather than getting blind sighted. You go, bro! What a rush, I’m sure! PTL!
    @Sarah: Sarah, Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!
    @Rebecca: Thanks, Becca! He is very cute .. and happy! 😉

  • Reply Bradley J. Moore October 21, 2009 at 3:19 am

    Friends = cushioning. Nice. Sometimes we need our friends upgraded to crash helmets, when things get really tough.

    What’s interesting for me is all the friends I am finding through blogging. Who’da thunk? And so many of them are genuinely caring. Some might even get calls for a cup o’ joe if we find ourselves in the same town. It’s cool.

    Thanks, Faith Barista!!

  • Reply Can Setting Goals Become An Addiction? | Faith Barista August 10, 2010 at 12:18 am

    […] summer, my three year old son experienced the thrill of riding his bike — free from training wheels.  Every day leading up to that moment was filled with excitement […]

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