things i learn while i'm being mommy

We've spent a few afternoons, before it got too rainy, walking down to the park since we moved back in with Dave's parents. Ana loves riding her bike over there. We cross the street, then ride on the sidewalk for 3 houses, then go down the curb into the parking lot of the park and over to the shade of a little tree to eat our cookies or picnic lunch and just sit in the summer loveliness. Then we return home, going through the parking lot, back up the curb, on the sidewalk for 3 houses then across the street.

Ana loves this little bit of independence she has riding her bike. She loves to do things all by herself. But, she usually has a little bit of trouble getting back up the curb on her bike. After insisting that she do it by herself, she tries a couple times, unsuccessfully, by standing up and pushing her bike up. Her little self can't quite get the momentum needed for the "mountain." (Her word for this part of the trek: "now we go down the mountain, mom." "now back up the mountain.") I offer help; she refuses. But if I just reach out my hand, she'll take it and it gives her just the leverage she needs to make it up. She then proudly states, "I did it by myself, Mom!"

One of the things that I've learned as a mother is that my Father in Heaven loves and cares for me just as I love and care for my children. When this little episode unfolded for the first time, I saw myself in Ana's place. All too often do I insist on doing things by myself when there is a heavenly helping hand outstretched to me.

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the unknown!”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than [a] light and safer than a known way
-M. Louise Haskins (quoted here)