Day 130: Walk Closely With God

July 23, 2020

When I was 13 all I wanted for Christmas was a 10-speed bicycle.  It was the “big thing” that everyone my age was getting.  It had gears (that no one really knew how to change), curled under handlebars and hand brakes for front and back that would throw you over the front of the bike if you used them wrong.  But it was COOL, and I wanted one.  There was a double empty lot on our street that my friends and I called “the trails”.  It was just brushy enough to make us feel like we were “out in the country” and had piles of dirt here and there that made great “ramps” to add excitement to our course.  Even as I type this, I realize that the bike I already had was much better suited to this activity than the bike I was “dying to have”.  Christmas morning came and I did get a new bike, but it was NOT a 10-speed.  It had the body shape, curled under handlebars, big skinny wheels and uncomfortable seat but not the gears or hand brakes that made it “cool”.  And it was not “ice blue” as I had specified, it was ORANGE!  I did not want to hurt Santa’s feelings, but I was so disappointed that I could barely hide my emotions.  I’m sure my parents knew exactly what I thought about this bike.  I can’t remember the words that were said but I can remember the emotional struggle going on inside my 13-year-old head.  “Could they not afford the one I wanted?”  “My friends are going to laugh at this bike!”  “This is going to be so embarrassing!” “Orange? Why orange? I hate orange!”  “Where did they even get this thing, K-mart?”  That question was soon answered.  Yes, they got it at K-mart, and surprise, surprise, it was on sale!  (LOL!)  I have never been so glad that I contained my emotions as I was about 30 minutes later when my two best “riding buddies” showed up at my house riding the exact same gearless orange bike!  Apparently, even before texting was around, parents talked behind kids’ backs.  I am pretty sure it was my dad that shared his big K-mart find with the other parents and they all agreed this bike was better suited to our needs (as well as less than half the price).  Those bikes lasted us for the next few years until we outgrew  “the trails” and began worrying what car we would drive.  As a parent now, I look back and know for sure that our parents were wise in their choice.  Our orange bikes never had gear problems or tossed us on our heads, while the kids with the fancy bikes were constantly having to walk/drag their bikes home with the chain hanging off.  There is an easy segue here into a lesson about unanswered prayers.  (Yes, I did pray for that ice blue 10-speed…)  When we pray for something or some answer and God doesn’t answer the way we want or “need”, we must trust that He knows better than we do.  He knows what the future holds.  He knows “the plan”.  So, our best response to disappointment or frustration is to wait and see how it all turns out and to do this with a grateful and trusting heart.  This is not easy but is much more possible if we walk closely with God each day rather than throwing out quick prayers “as needed”.  He gives us struggles so that we will see that we need Him.  We were not meant to navigate this life on our own.  1 Thessalonians 5:18 says:  “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  And James 4:8 says:  “And when you draw close to God, God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and let your hearts be filled with God alone to make them pure and true to him.”  Walk closely with God!  Smile and be joyful! 

An inspiring song:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp4WC_YZAuw