There were several groups of children on the ice rink. The younger girls were in the center perfecting their twirls. The older boys, racing around the rink, had developed a game of “toss the cap.” One little fellow fell in their path, but an older boy skillfully scooped him up and put him on his feet without losing any momentum in his game. Some older girls steadily made their rounds on the rink. Most of the adults stood around chatting with the other homeschool parents. But, one mom caught my attention. She was slowly and carefully skating around the rink. She was unsteady on her feet and obviously afraid of falling.
As I searched for a lost mitten later that day, I came upon a conversation between two mothers. The “unskilled skater” mom was chiding the mother of some of the older boys. Her comments went something like this:
“I thought that since this rink time was set apart for homeschoolers, I would see children in order and not racing around the rink scaring everyone else. I thought there would be rules about behavior. I think your sons acted in disregard for the safety of everyone on the rink.”
The mother of the older boys graciously apologized for any perceived wrong, but also added that she appreciated the openness that the kids had on the rink to play without so many rules. My search for the lost mitten carried me away from the conversation.
After finding the mitten, I took a load to the car. I happened to come across the “unskilled skater” and her daughter as they were approaching their car. She was complaining, “Some mothers so readily defend their children! Those boys should have been spoken to about their behavior!”
I could not help thinking it was her own fear of falling that made the boys’ behavior seem scary. Mothers, what is the measuring stick you use on others? Is it the standard of the Word of God, or is it rules you make up yourself that you hope will keep you and your children “safe”? Do your own rules cause you to look down on others who don’t follow your rules? It is not rules which will keep us in the Christian life. It is trust in a Source of strength outside of ourselves, the Lord Himself, who will keep us. Perhaps you have had the privilege of skating on the arm of a strong skater. That can steady the weakest skater. The Lord is always beside us to sustain us through life, and if we do fall, He will put us on our feet again. What do you trust in? Your made-up rules, or the loving Saviour?