Stepping Stones

Image walking across a stream, stepping from rock to rock as you firmly plant your foot to ensure you are on solid ground. Even when you have a precisely planned out root there are times when you hit a rock that is not as secure as the others or it is just slippery. When you step to this rock you fall, become wet, embarrassed, and maybe even mad. Is it the rocks fault you fell?

As my children get older I am finding more slippery and loose stones. I did not grow up with a strong father in my early life. I was not a strong father in my children’s early life either. Now I have a stronger faith in my Daddy, God, but at times I still step onto the rocks that are not firmly planted. When I do, I stubble and it can be an ugly site. Other times I attempt to move the rocks myself so I can get across and lead my family across, even though I may make it one of them may slip. This was not God’s intent but my self-will run riot. Sometimes God allows our loved ones to fall so we can help them up. Again, at this I sometimes fail. It is God’s intent that we follow His path no matter how difficult because He knows the destination is worth it.

I left my home today feeling like I had failed as a father. Through careful prayer and a conversation, probably long overdue with God, I see that I only fail if I don’t help my struggling child up off the rocks. I know that I did not handle the fall well but I can finish the day with a bigger Daddy in charge. Cleaning up the wounds won’t be easy and will take time to heal for everyone but it will happen because our God is a great healer, listener, captive audience, and best of all, the solid stone for us to stand upon, our Daddy.

And One is God The Father of all, and over all, and with all and in us all. Ephesians 4:6