It was a beautiful fall
day. Leaves on the ground; semi-warm and the outdoors were calling my name! So, we left to go hiking, looking for the
local mineral spring we had heard about.
Let me just tell you, hiking with 4 young kids is a bit more difficult
than I expected! Imagine carrying the
youngest because strollers don’t go hiking through the woods, a 2 year old that
can’t barely pick her feet up high enough to step over the rocks and branches, an
almost 4 year old who has uncontainable joy and runs all over the place (I
truly thought she might take a nose dive over the edge of the hill we were
climbing! Prayers were going up in
abundance that day, ha!) And a 5 year old boy who just wants to do all things
his momma thinks are “unsafe”.
By the end of the trek, finding
the spring, getting soaked, and muddy (of course), we were headed back down the
mountain when my son realizes there is another path. This path is one that is steep and just
barely worn, into the hillside. And of
course, he wants to take that one instead of the main path we had been on. So, I had already thrown all semblance of
control of the trip out the window and decided I would go with him while my
husband walked the girls the rest of the way down.
We climbed, up hill, in the dirt
and loose leaves, holding onto branches and each other for support! That worked for a while, we had a great time…
until the pathway came to an end and we realized we either had to head back (Heaven
help me!) or forge a new path down a very steep grade of hillside back onto the
main path. Since I couldn’t get both of
us turned around without a fear of falling, we decided to forge a new trail. I decided to let my 5 year old go first, that
way I could hold onto his arm if he slipped.
What was I thinking?! Down we go
rocks and dirt slipping under my tennis shoes and my behind, when at one point
I had to turn on my belly to grab ahold of a small tree trunk. This “trunk” was only a few inches thick and
not as sturdy as I would’ve liked but, in that moment something hit me.
Was I holding onto a branch/trunk
that was living or was dead? Was it
going to hold my weight and my son’s to get us down safely? Sitting/laying there on that hill, it made me
think. In life, what am I holding on
to? Is what I’m clinging to going to
keep me and my family safe? Is it going
to snap when weight is pulling on it?
When I’m in a really tough situation, will it hold me up and protect me? Not only my life, but the lives of my kids
depend on this answer.
As I sat there on that hillside,
I was very thankful that the God I hold
onto and put my trust in is VERY
alive and active in my life. He is my
strength and my safe place. He’s my
comforter, my encourager, my deliverer, my protector and SO much more! He will keep me through any tough
circumstance, He will fight battles for me, He goes before me and stays with
me…always. He promises in Deut.
31:8 “The Lord himself goes before you
and will be with you; he will never leave nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be
discouraged.” What an amazing, living God we serve!
One last thought, what do you
hold onto? Where do you place your
trust? Is it in a living God who has all
power, all authority and created the entire universe? If not, what’s keeping you tied to a dead
tree?! It’s not going to help you or
hold you…but Christ will.
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth. He
will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases
the power of the weak. Even youths grow
tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength. They will
soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and
not be faint.”
Isaiah 40: 28-31
Isaiah 40: 28-31
p.s. We made it down the hill
safe and sound, and I am now the proud momma of a memory I’ll never forget!
 |
| Jennifer & Micah |
We are always here for you,
please email women@westridge.cc with
questions or prayers. We love you!
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