Short Stories
Until early adulthood, I lived in a small Midwestern town. The landscape was dotted with dairy farms among woodland areas. In the fall the leaves on the trees would turn brilliant shades of yellow, orange and red. Acorns or walnuts littered the nature trails and many sidewalks in the area. Amidst the rolling farmland sat a six hundred seventy foot peak dubbed Rib Mountain. Now that I live in the Western United States we would call that a hill. But to the people who lived in the flat land areas around it, it was a mountain.
Atop Rib Mountain is a state park. Amidst the granite rock piles and twisted pine trees there are nature trails, camping and picnic areas. A variety of wildlife can be spotted along the trails including: Wild turkeys and other birds, deer, fox, raccoons, woodchucks, rabbits, and squirrels. It is a nature- lover’s paradise. In the winter there is a down-hill ski area for the more adventurous tourists and locals alike.
As a kid, I spent many hours with my parents wandering the trails and marveling at the rock structures. The strongest memory was of a sixty foot tall, three story, wood structure observation tower. Each of the three levels had an observation deck. The higher up we climbed the better the view. There was one problem though. I didn’t like heights and I was afraid to climb the tower.
My dad could have done many negative things at my refusal to climb the tower. Instead he was patient and tried to quell my fears. With my small hand tucked inside of his big, strong hand we made the ascent. The first time I didn’t even make it to the first observation deck. But that was okay. He left me clinging to a large support timber inside the stairwell while he went a little further up the tower. When he described the view from his vantage point, my fear was overcome by my curiosity. In a few minutes he came back to again take my hand and we went a little higher. The day I made it to the first observation deck was a milestone for me. We were only about twenty feet off the ground. But to a child who feared heights that seemed really high up.
The process repeated every time we went to the park. Each time I made it a little further up the tower. The day I finally climbed to the third deck, my legs were shaking and I didn’t want to let go of the support post by the top of the stairway. My dad let me stand there for a while. Then he took my hand and we walked a few steps closer to the railing. We stopped and looked around. The view was glorious. Eventually we crept our way to the railing. There was no way I could fall off of that tower. It had a three layer high wood railing running all the way around each deck. Even by standing on the bottom rail my head was barely above the top rail. My fear was unfounded.
I am thankful that my dad took the time to quell my fears and to help me to climb to the third deck of that tower. I was willing to settle with only climbing to the first deck. The view there was better than at ground level, but I still couldn’t see over most of the rock structures in the area. It wasn’t until I reached the third deck that I could see the expansive view of the valley below. It was breathtaking. I would have missed it if it hadn’t been for the loving persistence of my dad. He was patient and waited on me. But he knew that the view was too beautiful not to see it.
Thinking about that story makes me think of our Heavenly Father. In Galatians 5:22 - 23 it says that, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” My dad exhibited some of those characteristics in dealing with me. Doesn’t our Heavenly Father do the same with us? When we are fearful He does for us what my dad did for me. He waits. Then when we reach the goal He applauds, just like my dad did.
I haven’t lived in the Midwest for over thirty years. A six hundred and seventy foot hill seems miniscule to the five to seven thousand foot mountain peaks that surround me now. But the lessons I learned atop Rib Mountain will stay with me forever.
In any relationship trust must be built. Love on the other hand must be given freely. My dad earned my trust by helping me along and by loving me unconditionally. I am sure it was annoying to hear my protests when he knew what treasure lay at the top of the tower. Doesn’t God do the same with us? He loves us unconditionally. He helps us along the path of life when our own legs are too shaky to stand. He is faithful to wait and to repeat the lessons until we finally let go of the support post and trust Him to lead us safely along.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 900 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Sheree Murphy or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 900 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.