Mother and the Bicycle

My daddy had quadruple bypass surgery when he was 70 years old. When he recovered, he chose to exercise by getting a 10 speed bicycle. Eventually, he was riding to the top of Saunders Heights and all the way to the next town over and back for a total of 16 miles.

My mother had never ridden a bicycle and she wanted learn to ride. One day, the girls and I were visiting at Mother and Daddy’s home. Daughter # 1 had her small bicycle with her. So, my mother decided she would see if she could learn to ride it since it was a much smaller bicycle and my mother was only about 5’3”.

So, off to the back yard we went. The yard slanted enough so she could coast to the fence on the south. So, with Daddy holding the seat; the girls and I waiting in anticipation, my mother in her late 60's straddled the seat; put her feet on the pedals and off she went after first giving my Daddy strict orders not to turn her loose. She was doing rather well so Daddy turned loose It was as if we were watching a slow motion movie. Over went my Mother, falling very, very slowly and hitting the ground very easily on her right side. Of course, we were afraid she might be hurt so we ran to her.

“Don’t think I’ll be trying that again,” and looking at the girls she said, “I’ll just leave the riding up to your Granddad I think.” Daddy helped her up trying very hard not to laugh. That being impossible, as Mother, Daddy, the girls and I walked back to the house, we thanked God that Mother was okay and then we all had a good laugh.
  
Persistence in some things is worthwhile. While my mother didn't have the persistence to try riding again, she had persistence in a lot of other areas, including studying her bible.

How persistent are we with our bible study. A lot of times because we don’t always understand what we read, it’s very easy to just give up. However, if we ask God to open our minds and our hearts; get a version that is easy to understand, God will show us the things in His word that He knows we need.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4 NIV