Lessons from a three year old and a twisty slide

picture from:http://madronoranch.blogspot.com

Some time ago I went to a park with my three year old niece. She attempted many of the play items on the playground. Her favorite piece of playground equipment was the twisty slide. She would slide down it over and over. Soon, however, that was not enough. She then wanted to imitate some of the older children, and climb up the slide. I watched her as she attempted to climb up several times, and slid back down to the bottom of the slide with each unsuccessful attempt. Finally, I saw that she was determined to reach this goal, I knew it was now time to offer my support. Without saying a word I stretched out my hand towards her. Being three, I knew it was likely she would reject the proffered hand and she would proclaim, "I do it myself."

 

She looked at the hand and said, “Sara help me.”  I stretched my hand even closer to her.  She reached out her little, sweet hand and grasped my hand.  With her other hand she clutched the edge of the slide and slowly but surely began making her way up the slide.  Several times she released my hand and put more trust in the side of the slide than my hand, and she did not adjust the position of her hand as we went up the slide, causing her to slide back to the bottom of the slide.  

 

With loving eyes, I watched as she refused to give up, she in fact, kept climbing up that twisty slide with determination.  Eventually, she learned to balance her grip on the slide and her grip of my hand and made significant progress up the slide.  

 

We came to another hurdle.  As she climbed up the slide we came to a point where, although I could hold her hand still, I could not see her and she could not see me.  There was no eye to eye contact.  She had to trust that I would remain there holding her hand, and I had to trust she would keep climbing up the slide.  She slid down once more, but, this time, with confidence she climbed up that slide, and although she couldn’t see me and I couldn’t see her we trusted in each other and knew we were each there.  She charged up that slide, reached the top and proclaimed, “I did it!”

 

This was an incredible learning moment for me.  For one, it brought about the complete understanding of the idea of scaffolding.  I could have just dragged her up that slide, and she could have been successful, but she wouldn’t have learned how to climb up the slide, or developed some of the capabilities and competencies in the experience of climbing.   

 

Most importantly, I recognized in a very minor way some of the ways our Savior operates in the teaching and guiding of his earthly children.  He also allows us time to test out our abilities and see what we can do.  When we reach our limit, he also reaches his hand out to us, with the option to take it or not.  He also will not drag us up the slide, just because He wants us to feel success. He knows it will be worthless in our progress and painful.  He also has to allow us to learn to adjust our grip, our balance and our perspective.  He also watches, and hopes we will climb again, that we will reach out our hand and grasp his capable and loving hand.  He also has to trust, that though we are unable to see him eye to eye, we will continue to grasp, and continue to climb.  He understands most completely, that we have to learn through scaffolding, we have to build competencies of faith, hope, resiliency, love, endurance, patience, and peace in order to meet the challenges of life ahead. 

 

How many times that I have said, “Help me Father!!!”  and he has reached out his hand towards me?  How many times have I ended up in awkward positions, let go when I have not completely trusted in that I could get through this challenge?  How many times has he been there as I readjusted, tried to learn from my weaknesses and mistakes?  How many times has He trusted that I would keep going when He seemed far away?  How many times have I said, “I did it!!”  Instead of, “Thank you!!”?

 

From the Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 15:11 states, “Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?  If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely the things shall be made known unto you.”

 

Elder David A. Bednar stated about inquiring of the Lord, which is the first step in taking the Lord’s outstretched hand, “it is spiritually demanding and rigorous process.  Sincere desire, diligent preparation and faithful confidence in and commitment to act upon expected instruction.”

 

I am so grateful for all that I have.  May I continue to understand His grace and mercy and great love.  May I be grateful of His understanding of what I need to grow and learn and become stronger, more capable and be able to live the most beautiful life possible.  May I continually say “Thank you” and act upon my faith.