Last night we took the training wheels off of Elijah’s bicycle. It was past time. I had already raised them so high that they only touched when he rounded corners in our neighborhood.
As we were taking them off, I told him that once they came off they weren’t going back on. This was a speech my dad had given me while taking mine off. Then I told him that it was possible that he might fall down a few times but that it would be ok. My dad hadn’t told me this and I felt a swell of pride as I thought about all the ways I wasn’t going to make the same mistakes with my boys that my dad made with me. (If there were a font I could use to indicate sarcasm, I would have used it for that last sentence–twice.)
Hearing that there was a chance he could fall, Elijah put his hands in prayer position and sincerely prayed, “Dear God, please don’t let me fall off my bicycle. Help me to ride it.” His older brother and I said, “Amen.”
Once the wheels were off I took him to the middle of the road and told him to start pedaling. I only ran next to him for about fifteen feet before I let him go. He sped away down the street without a wobble. He looked like he had come out of the womb riding his bike.
I hopped on my bike and caught up to him. I complimented him and told him how proud I was of him. I told him how surprised I was that he didn’t fall at all.
He said, “I prayed that God would keep me from falling and I didn’t fall.”
Then he sighed and said, “Yep. . .God is real.”
I responded by saying a prayer of thanks for childlike faith. It was a bittersweet prayer however, because I know that as Elijah grows older his simple faith in a God who keeps him from falling off of his bike will be tested.
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
That would make a great Rob Bell NOOMA video!!!!
A moving and thoughtful post. Thanks for sharing this, Wade!
Outstanding.
Is there a flame job on that bike?
I know if any of mine were named Elijah, they would have flames on everything.
That belongs in a “Chicken Soup…” book.
Please take that the best way possible.
Comb out of the womb. Nice play on words. An even better story.
Who told you the trick about raising up the training wheels? I’ve done that with my oldest two and it works great (along with a bunch of prayer!).
Congrats Dad.
Wade,
Have comfort. If Elijah’s faith isn’t tested along the way, it won’t become stronger and more “real” to him. (That’s my theological reply. Now, from one father to another, I understand.)
Wade,
Watch out Frederick Buechner. Great story and great truth.
I wish I had Elijah’s skills in bike rideing when I was his age… it took me several days of training till I could go without falling!
I think we all wish that we had faith like Elijah.
Wade,
Thanks for sharing that inspiring for us. I love the faith of children. My we all desire to have the trusting faith of a child in a God who keeps us from harm.
My first time I went crashing to the ground.
http://www.matthewsblog.waynesborochurchofchrist.org
I wish I could pray beautiful prayers like Elijah’s. rtrr
My youngest just took hers off too. I blogged about it here.
I’ve though about the spiritual lessons in how she did ever since, but can’t tease them out. They’re in there, though.
My though if my kid had said that to me would be to wonder if maybe I’m not just a little too cynical.