For those expecting a biblical exploration of the woman who was married to an idiot and helped stop David from killing her idiot husband, before going on to marry David herself when the idiot husband keeled over anyway … this is not it. (Great story though. As in, I love reading the episode. It’s good drama/comedy/wisdom narrative.)
In my hiatus, our middle child, also named Abigail, celebrated her 7th birthday. I was not able to do a tribute blog for her at the tiime, and this is not it, either. An event happened this week, that made me think of the blessing of having children and how they teach valuable lessons all the time about my walk with Jesus and my attitude and all that kind of thing. (Love that way of ending sentences – sure, you won’t write it in a book, but on your own blog, who is going to stop you?)
The brief tale begins with Abigail’s older sister Deborah. She was invited to a birthday party that took place at a roller-skating rink. The invite was kindly extended to her sister and cousin. Anyone who knows me – and as a way of knowing me – you will know I am as likely to be excited about turning up at a rollerskating rink as I was overjoyed to be told my wisdom tooth will be removed and I’ll have to suffer the next week or so with headaches, etc. (The removal took place on Tuesday. I was not overjoyed that it would happen, but understood its necessity. I am grateful for anaesthetic … and paracetamol.)
Yet on the polite and loving request of my beloved wife, I accompanied the girls to the rink. It was here that Abigail reminded me of so many valuable lessons of what it is to follow Jesus.
Abigail delights my heart, because she is up to trying anything. she throws caution to the wind and is willing to give something a go and give it her best. right there I am reminded about some of the gusts of Spirit-filled living that lets you want to give something a go for Jesus. You wanna give sharing His story a go with a stranger. You wanna give it a go sharing what you have with those in need. You wanna give it a go sharing life with complete strangers and seeing where Jesus will lead you.
Of course when I say ‘You wanna’ this might not be your experience of what it is to follow Jesus. You’re probably not like Peter wanting to give the walking on the water gig a go. Perhaps. Yet in the same way it’s ppossible the gust of the Spirit in the sails of your life might lead you to do something – give someone a hand, share a word of encouragement, try a new missionary trip to the rough part of the city or an impoverished country.
Watching Abigail’s enthusiastic approach to this new thing of rollerskating brought back memories of what it was to be that enthusiastic in following where Jesus is leading.
Unlike her far more cautious father who is very much comfortable having his two feet firmly on the ground, Abigail was not only enthusiastic about getting on the skates, she wasn’t afraid to fall down. Each time she fell only encouraged her to give the thing another go and learn from how she fell and ensure she didn’t again. Where others were tentatively finding their way gingerly edging out and soon enough falling on their bottom anyway, Abigail would venture out, lose control, fall down big time, pick herself up, brush herself down, give it another go and find confidence in the technique to move on.
I am not particularly lauding her independent manner, but I am applauding her preference to get stuck in rather than gingerly approach something for fear of something that is going to happen anyway. Far better to have it happen and learn from it to improve, than feel the little tippy-tappy approach will stop you from falling. Abigail in the early stages made falling a sport. She learnt.
In like manner, I reflected that following Jesus inevitably leads to set-backs. I’ve yet to meet a Christian who hasn’t had a slip up here or there. I’ve yet to come across passionately pursuing the call of Christ on their lives who hasn’t made a mess up somewhere or others. What has marked them out as maturing adn impressive followers of Christ is the capacity they have to acknowledge their failings and seek to learn from it. That humility of character that lets the Lordship of Jesus shape their lives in the mistakes they make.
Much rather follow and slip than not follow at all, or just as bad follow in a overly-cautious approach that wants all boxes to be ticked before you do anything, and even then needing an insurance policy of your own making. Such slow, heavy laden approaches to following Christ actually hinder progress rather than allow you to grow in the way He wants.
I watched Abigail the Action-Hero enjoy her skating and have so much fun that when she was told the time was up she cried begging to stay. My prayer was and is that she will carry that enthusiastic approach into following Christ for herself and applying that will see others likewise encouraged to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, enthusiastically, even in the falls, knowing that there is so much joy to be had following Him.
It’s also my prayer that I will follow the Spirit where He leads me – even to rollerskating rinks to learn more lessons of what it is to follow Jesus.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 