That’s what riding a bike is really about, isn’t it?  Trusting yourself enough to balance between those two {small} rubber tires and stay upright?  You’re wobbling along, an impending fall in your future.  The concrete scarily closing in.

Curt’s We’ve been working with the girls for weeks … actually more like months … to put the training wheels away permanently.  For some reason, they just don’t want to do it.  Wynter actually, is braver than Piper is.  Piper sort of turns into an infant when we ask her if she wants to work on this new feat.

I’m not sure what it is.

And then I have to remind myself … how many times have I not trusted myself?  Isn’t it just easier relying on training wheels?  How many times must my God have looked at me and thought … you can do this … it’s a piece of cake.  Just trust yourself … just trust me.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 {NIV}

As I was thinking about this post tonight … I kept going back to the simplicity of riding a bike …”it’s so easy … just do it, just trust yourself to do it,” I’m gently telling the girls.  Yet they fear.

We fear the unknown.  It’s our nature.  We fear falling.  We fear failing.

“Do you know the freedom you’ll feel when you finally have it down?” I ask the girls.

I can’t imagine the countless times God has whispered to me … “freedom is yours for the taking, all you have to do is trust me.”  “Trust me and forgive that person.”  “Trust me and stop that worrying.”  “Trust me and give me that situation.”  “Trust me and donate half your profits.”  “Trust me and let go of the control.”  “Freedom can be yours if you just trust me.”

Just like learning to ride a bike … it’s all about trust isn’t it?  And once you have it down?  You never forget how to ride a bike.

I’m striving to remember that simple parallel in my everyday walk with God … trust, so I’ll never forget.

So how’d the girls do?  Wonderfully!

In the photo above, there’s a handle on the back of the bike … CJ had a conversation with someone from Europe {Denmark maybe?} about the kids there riding on two wheels when they are teeny, tiny kids!  She told him about this handle thing, so he was all over it and thought they’d be riding in no time flat.  Didn’t happen quite like that.

Then I read something about taking the pedals off the bike, so they use it more like a scooter and learn their balance that way.  Just push off, put your feet up and coast.  Didn’t happen quite that easily.

Honestly, CJ has painstakingly been working with the girls on this … when slowly but surely, they were ready {the promised trip to Toys R’ Us may or may not have had something to do with it?}.

The last photo above is Wynter doing her “I’m ready, I’m ready” dance.

But Piper went first … and she did it!  She really did it!

And then it was Wynter’s turn … rock star!

We are SO proud of them!

It’s funny … I wouldn’t say they are officially ‘riding on two wheels now’ … it’s going to take more practice.  They’re still leary, and they’re still wobbly.

But with the continued guidance and perserverence of their extremely patient Father … I don’t doubt I’ll they’ll have it down in a matter of time.  Ahem … ;)