Ice skating is not one of my better sports. I don’t know how John talked me into going to the skating rink at the Houston Mall, but he did.
When we hit the ice, John took off! He came back skating around me and then backwards as he asked, “Do you want any help?”
“No”, I assured him, “I’m fine on my own.” I would never be able to keep up with him. I made my way around the rink — by hanging onto the edge!
Racers played a game of tag. I lost track of John amongst the crowd of brightly colored outfits. Before long I heard,
“I can help you.”
I turned around to see who was talking to me, but there was no one there.
Again, I heard, “I can help you!”
Looking down, I saw a little hand stretched up toward me. I guessed her to be about three. She barely reached my mid-thigh. I smiled at her and then looked around to see who she belonged to. A woman about 30 feet away smiled and nodded.
I looked down again at the dark, curly haired pigtails just in time to see her sparkling black eyes look up at me. Who could resist?
She insisted, “I can help you,” she pushed her small hand into mine. Slowly we moved away from the wall.
She was confident. I was not! She knew she could do this. I believed she could only after a few glides.
Chattering incessantly, “Keep your skates like this,” she stopped to show me how to “toe pick” in case she started to go too fast. She was charming. I couldn’t resist her sales pitch that she knew what she was doing.
If John saw this “Ice Angel” helping me he never let on. He was lost in the crowd.
Gaining Trust
She was careful to glide us just far enough away from the wall, so I would not be tempted to reach for it!
She gained my trust, as she stopped to explain how good skating works. Someone had taught her well. She never let go of my hand.
I learned more from this patient teacher than anyone else who had tried to teach me.
“Chenille, we have to go.” He mother was interrupting our lesson.
“Now?”
“Yes, Daddy’s waiting.”
Chenille explained to me how she couldn’t keep her Daddy waiting. She ended our lesson with,
“You can do it! You don’t have to hang onto the wall anymore.”
My “Ice Angel” smiled up at me, as she glided into her Daddy’s arms.
Ice Skating Reflection
Often my biggest lessons come in pint size packages. Chenille was confident. She knew she could do this. She did not let her size or my size intimidate her. She knew she could help. She didn’t offer, she insisted. Her heart was in the right place.
It didn’t matter that I could pick her up and carry her around on solid ground. What mattered? She had the skills, the ability, the confidence to help me on the ice.
She taught me not to size up the package and make judgments based on what I could see. But instead, risk trusting someone younger than me. She was the Lord’s choice. She was my “Ice Angel.”
Challenge
Is there someone in your life you need to look at in a different light? Someone older or younger than you? Do you need to see them with the eyes of the Lord?
Perhaps that someone is you? Do not judge your ability by the size of the task, but rather gain your confidence in the Lord. If he says you can do it, believe him! Then stay alert to who he is bringing to help. His choice just might encourage you see with a different eye.
Further Study
“The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
“His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” Psalm 147:10-11
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12