Lots of Little Steps
I
remember when my children were taking their first steps. It was so exciting to see them finally get up
on their feet and wobble across the room.
With each step we would cheer.
The excitement in the room was almost uncontainable. Of course, as quickly as they got up, they
would fall onto their bottom or bump into something that would knock them to
the floor. But, it wasn’t the falling we concentrated on, it was the
walking—even if it was only a few steps.
Over
the next few weeks there were lots of “ups and downs,” literally! As our son or daughter would begin to make
their way across a room, something would knock them off balance and down they
would go. Sometimes we would take them
by the hand and lift them back up to their feet. At other times, Kim or I would
watch with amusement as they figured out on their own how to get back up. In the end, the point wasn’t about how far
they could walk at any given moment, but that each time they got up they would
take one, two, or even three more steps forward. In the end, it was the lots and lots of
little steps (with a whole bunch of falls in between) that got them to where
they wanted to go.
As
we move out of one year into another, what is it we cheer about? Few people can actually point to and
celebrate a bunch of great big steps in any given year. Those are usually few and far between. And, I’m sure we have all had our share of
falls. The truth is, our lives are most often made up of lots of little steps—with
a lot of falls in between. But, to draw a little bit closer to my wife and
kids; to learn how to do my job with a bit more skill; to grow a little bit
deeper in my walk with God—each of these are small steps forward that are worth
commemorating and celebrating. We make a
mistake if we only celebrate the big steps, or fail to celebrate because we’ve
experienced a few bumps and bruises. Rather, just a little bit of progress in
each area of our lives is worthy of celebration.
As
you look back over 2012 and prepare for 2013, don’t concentrate on the falls
and the bumps and bruises of this past year.
And, don’t look only for the big steps in order to celebrate. Rather, take note of the little steps you
have taken—steps that have moved you just a little bit further along in your
journey with God and with the people around you. And, give thanks to God for being there by
your side each step of the way.
Psalm
37:23 – “The steps of a good man are
ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way.” (NKJV)
Have
a blessed New Year!
Pastor
Tim Harris
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