Down But Never Out

Psalm 145:14 "the Lord sustains all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down."

I can hear her correction, her words...how should I say it?  ...to "protect me." 

"Sit up straight."  (slouching is bad for the posture). 

"Pick your feet up!" (shuffling or dragging one's feet slows you down and may cause a fall).

And her most famous one..."You need a little lipstick!" ( Maybe that's why I always have one in my pocket to this day).

Moms always have good intentions, even if their constant repeating gets annoying. (I hope my son realizes that soon). 

So today, and also a few weeks back...I shuffled and you guessed it, I tumbled. 

I fell hard both times. The first time, walking from the hospital to the medical office, ironically for an urgent care appointment for myself! 

A bridge straddled a drainage area and garden and it had a narrow metal grate running across. I caught my flip-flop and down I went, hard on my knees and hands on the concrete. I scraped and bruised both knees, one more that the other, the pain lasting the rest of the summer. 

Urgent care now became about two things. Nothing was broken, except my pride. I will gladly admit though, I can be a klutz. 

Today, at school, in front of the Library, yep, it happened again. Down I went as my foot abruptly stopped on a raised tile area of students names and memories. 

"Coleene, and here is where I fell, September, 2017." 

Between classes, I think no one saw me. I less than graciously, lifted myself up, made sure nothing was broken and hobbled back to my classroom, bleeding and disheveled, eventually making my way to Nurse Lila. She directed me to clean my wound, bandage myself up and maybe some paperwork. 

Now I have to document my blunders!  Ugh! 

Ungraceful at times, we fall. Maybe, it is the sin in our lives that trips us up. It is always when we take our eyes off the One who balances us and leads the way. It hurts, stings, bleeds and bruises up. Our achey hearts and spirit make us difficult--we cannot respond to others who are hurting because we are too focused on our own wounds. 

Maybe sometimes we need to just stay on the ground a bit longer, prostrate and needy, allowing  God to pick us up and sustain us.

 Can you picture that? His arms under yours, gentle and guiding as He wipes our brow and hands us a glass of living water, brushes away the gravel stuck to our wounds and then carries us the distance until we can stand strong once again.

His grace becomes my grace. My grace, given, can help steady another and point to the One who is the Lifter of our heads, the Binder of our wounds, our Healer and Strength-giver. 

Mom, thank you for your wisdom in my outward appearance and posture. Lord, thank You for grace that sometimes allows the fall, but is ready and anxious to pick me up and straighten me out.  Each and every time my own self begins to shuffle, slump and trip over obstacles of this world and the adversary's accusations get under my feet, I know a simple prayer of asking for Your wisdom, Your forgiveness and Your grace will keep me walking with discernment and foresight in all that lies ahead of me.  Lastly, I pray my lips will be ready to proclaim Your goodness to me, in the right shade and shine! Amen. 

    Get Back Up ~ Toby Mac 

                                                         You Lift Me Up ~ The Afters