Sometimes this life is less like a valley walk and more like pushing a wheelbarrow-full of loved ones on a tightrope over the valley. Although I’ve never actually walked a tightrope, I am sure it is both terrifying and treacherous, requiring sure footing, steady balance and a focused mind. One misstep could take a girl over the edge. Even worse, her precious cargo—her children—could go careening off the wire with her into the abyss below.
And life has taken away her safety net.
(Okay, I realize that sounds dramatic, but hear me out.)
Parenting is hard enough. Solo parenting after the world has just turned on edge is just. plain. scary. I get it.
So what do we do when the floor is pulled out from under us and a thread is all that we have left on which to stand? How do we breathe through the fear and keep putting one foot in front of the other? How do we even dare to hope that we can safely lead our flock to solid ground on the other side?
How does one successfully navigate a tightrope?
Here are a few funambulism (tightrope walking) tips I found:
- Fix your eyes on one focal point in front of you.
- Take small steps and keep moving forward until you reach your goal.
- Keep your knees soft instead of rigid.
- Don’t look down!
Interestingly, those tips will work for us valley-walking funambulists, as well.
- Fix your eyes on Jesus.
This is the only way. The author of Hebrews wrote, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” Not my circumstances. Not my perceptions. Not my experience. Not people. Not myself. Paul wrote, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)
Eyes 👏🏻on 👏🏻Jesus👏🏻.
- Take small steps, but keep moving forward.
Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. (Psalm 143:8b) Sometimes, the most courageous thing we can do is to obey scared—one small step at a time—trusting God to light the path as we go.
In His strength, we can do hard things!
- Be flexible.
Loss teaches us how to pivot. Hold things loosely. According to Paul, through Christ, we can even learn to be content with change. “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:12)
Blessed are the flexible.
- Don’t look down.
Looking down creates fear, looking around causes comparison, and too much looking back can keep us stuck. “One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) The past holds many things—memories and regrets, joys and tragedies, love and loss, beauty and pain—but if the past holds me, I will miss out on the future God has for me.
Look to Jesus; that’s where our Hope lies.
On those days you feel like you’re walking a tightrope, remember this: you are not alone. Breathe a prayer through the fear, then look up. Jesus is standing right there in front of you with outstretched arms saying,
“I’ve got you. Eyes on me.”
You are loved!
🩷Audra
I just wanted to share this sweet message I received today. What a precious privilege it is to walk this valley with you all.
I hope you know how loved you are!
🩷A
———
Thank you for this. I have a very difficult conversation I need to have with a friend. Yes, there is fear. I don’t want to lose her as a friend, but at this point I am not comfortable sharing things with her because of fear of her response.
Praying for you and this situation! ❤️🩹
Thank you.