I can remember when my first born son was learning to walk. Everyone in the house was full of excitement. We cheered him on as he pulled himself up on the coffee table and walked around it keeping his palms on it for support. We applauded when he began to make his way down the halls leaning against the wall and going hand over hand as he toddled along. Every time we stood him up in the middle of the floor, however, he would only take a step or two before falling on his butt. Then he would look scared, frown, and crawl over to the safety of his favorite wall to pull himself back up. For a while there it looked like he would never walk without both palms planted firmly on it. Then one day we decided to give him a hand, literally. We began to take turns bending down and offering him a finger to hold onto while he walked. When we did this his fear disappeared and his smile returned. He seemed happy to walk along forever hand in hand with us. I spent a lot of time over the next few weeks walking like this with him. Thankfully, he finally did learn to let go and walk on his own before my back gave out.

In my own walk through life I sometimes find myself falling on my butt too. I know that Heaven’s angels are cheering me on and urging me to get up and keep going no matter how many mistakes I make and how many times I fall. Still, sometimes I find myself crawling instead of rising. Happily, though, there is always a hand there ready to help me back to my feet. God’s loving hand is always there ready to help us up and get us going again. His back never gives out either. He will walk hand in hand with us all through this life and into the next.    

If you stumble and fall then don’t be afraid. Just reach up and take your Father’s hand. He will always help you up. He will always be with you too, step by loving step. He will walk with you hand in hand down life’s dark and winding road and into Heaven’s shining light.