It became most apparent to me as I watched my son’s approach to getting down stairs. Without fail, he’d go as far as he could on his own, bring all ten toes to the edge of the step, and stare down at the five-inch drop with wide-eyes. Then he’d shoot his hand up and wait.

The moment he felt my fingers wrapping—and don’t you know I hustled to get them there—he’d hurl his body forward and fly off the step. Never mind that he didn’t know how to bend his knees or step toe-to-heel, he shot that leg out straight as an ironing board and landed it squarely on the pavement below. He’d been carried the whole way down, his entire body held up in the palm of my hand.

His approach to walking with his hands has brought me a long way too. Sure, I’ve learned to bend my knees and meet the ground toes first, but there are still so many steps before me that I can’t take by myself. And somehow, I tend to lose sight of how to handle these in the loving care of a watching Parent.

Instead of worrying or whining, I’ll pause at the edge and take a good look at where we’re going. Then I’ll shoot my hand up and wait. And when I feel those fingers—and don’t you know they’ll be right there when I need them—I won’t hesitate. I’ll lean forward and fly, knowing I’m safe in His hand.

“For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. –Isaiah 41:13