Making the drop

Moms enjoy a cup of coffee from the deck overlooking the park

Every Tuesday evening, Amy hosts Girls' Skate. The moms of some of the girls come and enjoy a cup of coffee and some cookies while they watch their girls skate. It's a nice time for them to connect and for Amy to be able to share God's love with them in practical ways (she makes the coffee, for starters!).

Well, yesterday Barrett and Amy had a speaking engagement, so I hosted Girls' Skate by myself. It was great! I had so much fun making the coffee, chatting with the moms, and helping the girls drop in on the ramps. Every skateboarder knows her limits, and it was neat to watch as the girls tried to drop in on bigger and bigger ramps, fighting back their fears. One girl in particular would stand with her board poised at the edge of the ramp for what seemed like an eternity. The mental battle going on inside was so easy to see on her face. I finally gripped her hands and convinced her to just go for it. I told her I would hold her hands and run alongside her to catch her if she lost control. She dropped in, and to my surprise, didn't lose control at all!

I probably had a bigger grin on my face than she did after that. It's so neat to help a kid overcome her fears, and to see their trust in you. I realized why the other young girls had been unsuccessful in convincing her to drop in. She needed someone bigger, stronger, and more experienced to tell her it would be ok and to help her through it.

So it is with us and God: we can take risky steps of faith because we trust in a God who is huge, powerful, and cares deeply for our well-being. The writer of Hebrews tells us that by her faith, Sarah received strength to conceive, even though she was past the age of child-bearing, "because she judged Him faithful who had promised." It's all about the One making the promise. What His attributes are. Is He good? Can He be trusted? Does He always keep his word?

Girls just want to have fun?

Even the moms give it a go sometimes!