It was a beautiful day outside, the sun was shining and the skies were blue and it was even warm when you opened the door! After Randy left for work he called and told me I should take the kids for a walk to see the river. He said it was going fast and there were giant ice chunks going down, something Peyton would love to see. That afternoon we got our shoes and sweatshirts on and outside we went. The kids were so excited to be going out after a very long winter cooped up in the house. I put Jayden in her stroller and realized that this year Peyton was big enough to walk along side me. Where has time gone?! This was a first for him and I, so, we had to talk about what was to come, since we would be walking along the road. I explained the dangers, that he needed to hold my hand, listen me, etc.
Away we went. Being the first warm day all the snow had been melting quickly and there was water rushing everywhere. Starting off we walked along side a ditch that was filled with water. Then it disappeared under the road so we stopped at the other side to see where it came out. We could also see the stream at the bottom of the hill that the water ran into. We went on walking and stopped again to look at how the stream came down through the forest and at how fast the water was moving. Peyton asked if there were “fishies” in the water and I told him how the are hiding under the rocks. We continued down the hill and like any 4 year old curious boy would do, he went through a thousand questions! Some I answered, some I didn’t. One I didn’t answer was “Mommy what is that?!!! Does is have fur?” as we passed a dead cat along side the road. Given that he dearly loves his kitty, I figured it was best left unknown. “Just an animal that got hit by a car” I told him and pulled him along before he could get a close look. “Wasn’t he holding him Mommy or Daddy’s hand when he was on the road?” he asked. “He must not have been” I replied.
We continued until we reached the bottom of our hill. Down the road beside us there was a place where the stream we had been looking at went underneath a small bridge. I decided we’d go take a look. We walked to the side of the bridge and watched the water rushing through the rocks, up into the trees and under the bridge. Peyton wanted to throw in some rocks which I thought was a good idea until he did it. To throw his rock he took a step forward and lunged which nearly gave me a heart attack. After that, I double checked Jayden’s stroller belt, then held onto the stroller and Peyton’s shirt for dear life! They threw a few more rocks, as many more as their mother could nervously handle, which turned out to be about 3 each!
Again we continued down to the big river. My conversation with my 4 year old continued to amaze me. He knows so much and remembers everything. As we went along he was reminding me of things we did last summer on our walks, pointing out the bike trail and telling me all about the time he rode his bike on it with us. A car went flying past us entirely too fast and he said “Mommy are there police around here? That car was speeding, they should catch him and put him in jail”.
When we got to the river there were two people standing on the bridge looking into the water. When they walked away Peyton asked me why they weren’t holding hands! We stopped before the bridge and watched the raging water. Ice chunks, tree branches, among other things were flying down with the water. It was an awesome learning experience for the kids and they were fascinated. In the distance we saw a train going by and Peyton asked if we could go to the tracks. This meant crossing the river, something I did not want to do. We went over a few more instructions about going over the bridge, which I think were more for myself than the kids! I checked the stroller belt again, got a good hold on Peyton’s hand, and across the open grate bridge we went. Of course all the way across Peyton was pointing out the water below us, along with the ice chunks, the trees, and on and on and on.
Eventually we made it to the train bridge. I told the kids we would have to wait a little while if we wanted to see the train so we found a spot to sit down. We waited for about 20 minutes and no train came. We were just starting to walk away and I could hear it off in the distance so we went back to our spot and waited a little longer. Sure enough the trained turned the corner! “TRAIIINNNNN” Peyton was so excited! The engineer honked the horn and waved to us and the train went right underneath us! The kids were so happy to be watching the train drive right under them and I was happy they were able to finally see it.
As we started back home, the excitement of seeing the train had overtaken Peyton. He was forgetting what we had talked about. He was forgetting to hold my hand and kept trying to run ahead of me. We had to stop and I went back over the rules again said to him “Peyton if you’re not going to listen I will give you a time out beside this telephone pole”. “But Mommy you will leave me here all by myself…” he instantly got upset thinking I meant that I would let him standing there alone. I reassured him that I would not leave him alone but that he must listen to me. He listened after that and as we walked along I told him what a good job he did and what a big boy he was. Again we crossed the river after checking straps and tightening grips! Then began the uphill climb to our home. We stopped twice for a drink of water and a brief rest and then continued along. Almost to the top Peyton started wearing out. I reminded him of Callie and Buster waiting on our porch and turned his focus to looking for them. We made it back home and sure enough, Buster and Callie were waiting on the porch for us. As soon as they saw we made it back they started barking and jumping! I was so proud of my little guy. We had a wonderful first day out!
As I was thinking about everything that happened that day God had opened my eyes to how significant that walk with my kids actually was. There are so many lessons to be learned from it. The walk the kids took with me is directly related to our walk with our Father.
He gives us complete direction as we go out into the unknown. He doesn’t expect us to just know what to do but simply requires us to listen to His direction. The beginning of our walk with Him is usually easier, as when walking downhill. It’s more about if we are going to hold his hand and learn. We will make a few “stops” where He will teach us what we need to know. Some stops (like ours at the top of the hill looking down at the stream) may be to simply learn how life works in general , other stops (like the one at the small stream) may be to prepare us for what lies ahead. As we walk He holds our hand, checks our straps, and keeps us safe from harm. He is there to have a conversation and He is there to answer our questions. Some questions He will give a clear answer to but others (like the cat) He doesn’t answer, not because He doesn’t love us, but because He knows what is best for us.
I think of the raging waters we saw as the things of this world and the sin that fills it. Just as the kids and I stood above it, watching it, we can stand above this world with our Father. I think of the massive chunks of ice and the huge branches - that water was strong enough to carry them away forever, far away from where they came from. The people standing on the bridge, right above the water, leaning over to look because they were curious, who were not holding hands, were they safe? Maybe, but in my 4 year old eyes, which is how I’m looking at this, absolutely not. How many people do you know in your life who are standing right on the edge of sin, feeding their curiosity, not holding their Fathers hand? Are they at risk of falling in? Yes.
There will be times in our lives when we need to step out of our comfort zone and pass through the world in order to reach another point (just as we had to pass over the bridge). Do we have a hand to hold? When we were on this bridge, Peyton initially held my hand but I was holding him so tightly that as long as he walked beside me there was no way I was letting go. If only you will obey and walk beside God, He will hold you. Remember what Peyton did though, looking below talking about what was beneath us? God wants you to keep your focus on what lies ahead, not on the things rushing around you.
The train. Are you being patient enough to wait for the abundance God has for you? God has blessings prepared for you, He has called you to greatness, if you listen and obey on your walk, He will pour out His blessings upon you. Don’t compare yourself to others around you, for some the train may come the moment they step on the bridge. Others, may just miss it. Some may have to wait a period of time. If that train would have came just as we walked up, the conductor may not have seen us. Since we patiently waited for it, the conductor saw us, he honked and he waved. Imagine how special that would make a 4 year old little boy feel! If you will just sit tight, be patient, wait for what God has for you, you may even get a little extra! God is more than happy to give us these moments in our lives (just as I was happy the kids got to see the train) if only we will wait on His timing.
God will NEVER leave you alone. Peyton thought for sure that just because he would be in a time-out that meant I would leave him by himself. Anyone would know how ridiculous of a thought that is, understandable in his eyes, but as a parent, crazy. I would never, never leave him behind. Your Father in Heaven will NEVER, NEVER leave you alone. Understand that.
On our journey to our home in Heaven we will encounter all these things, some more than once. Life itself is an uphill battle. When we walk with our Father and allow Him to, He will guide us, protect us and teach us. When you start to feel weary just think of Jesus waiting at the door of Heaven, I don’t imagine he will bark, but I do think he will have his arms wide open, ready to welcome you in!
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