After a near five-year hiatus from cycling since becoming pregnant, it was my four-year old first born who asked me to ride again.
On my maiden ride as a family of four, I felt shaky, nervous even.
Gone were my hey days speeding down lanes pushing hard, with the adrenaline in my head and wind in my hair.
As my four-year old sped away ahead of me, I wobbled clunkily behind.
I beamed with pride at her confidence. But my eyes soon soured with tears when she slowed down, stopped, turned back and said in perfect mimicry to me, “MAMA, you’re doing such a GREAT JOB! You’re SO BRAVE and riding SO WELL!”
I blushed with embarrassment as she yelled it out in public. I was riding an oversized public rental bike that was rusty and heavy, a poor fit for my frame. I looked awful.
Unlike me who measured a ride based on distance and speed, Sarah-Faith measured it differently.
All she cherished, was the joy of riding together with me.
I began to tear pondering over this- is this not how God measures our lives differently? While we strive relentlessly to do more faster, God treasures not how much we’ve done as much as the intimacy we’ve nurtured with Him in the journey.
It occurred to me- that the true treasures worth measuring are often immeasurable- that of stopping for a friend, to encourage, to savor a moment of gratitude.
As we enter a new year, Sarah-Faith reminded me of the joys of simply being able to delight in our life’s journey- of being vulnerable, tender, encouraging, and always, kind.
Even if we need to slow down, stop and turn back to say an encouraging word to another.
For all that I’ve been through in 2021, I’m grateful for this lesson learnt.
I enjoyed the ride with you, too, Sarah-Faith.