Another oldie I wrote back in 2009! Still on point! Just a little update with a cute pic!

I’ll never forget the day we taught our oldest son, Jake, how to ride his bike without training wheels. It was one for the books.

Teddy—his daddy—started out right next to him, gripping the handlebars and the back of the seat, making sure Jake could balance and brake without toppling over. At first, Teddy held on tight, guiding him every step of the way. Then, as Jake started to steady himself, Teddy let go of the handlebars and only held onto the seat. Wobbly, but determined, Jake kept going.

And then, the moment of truth—Teddy let go completely. For a brief second, Jake was doing it! He was riding all on his own! And then… crash. Down he went. It wasn’t terrible, just a little scrape, but the tears came fast. I scooped him up and asked, “What happened, Jaker?” With big, teary eyes, he looked at me and said, “Daddy let me go, and I got scared.”

Teddy felt awful, but of course, he was just trying to teach Jake how to ride on his own. After a few comforting words (and maybe a few more sniffles), Jake bravely got back on the bike, and we started the whole process again.

As the afternoon went on, frustration set in. Eventually, Jake—his little ego flaring—decided he didn’t need Daddy’s help anymore. He insisted Teddy let go. Teddy wasn’t so sure, but Jake was determined. And then, in one bold move, he decided to take on our very steep driveway.

For a split second, he felt the thrill of freedom. And then… CRASH. This time, it was bad. Blood everywhere. And in true Jake fashion, instead of showing how hurt he was, he got mad. He turned to Teddy and shouted, “Why didn’t you catch me, Daddy?!”

A Lesson in Faith

Our walk with God is a lot like Jake’s bicycle lesson. There are times in life when we want God holding onto us tightly, guiding us, protecting us, keeping us from falling. We don’t want to move forward without the security of His presence. We’re afraid we’ll lose our balance or forget how to brake.

Then, there are the times we don’t feel God as strongly. We get into a funk, maybe even drift away, thinking He’s not guiding us—when in reality, we’re the ones not seeking Him. God gives us room to grow, to make choices, to strengthen our faith.

And then, of course, there are times when we get a little too confident. We start making decisions without seeking God’s guidance. We think we’ve got it all figured out. “I’ve got this, God! Your rules don’t apply here, dude.” And then… CRASH.

We fall. Hard. And what do we do? We turn to God, bruised and broken, and cry, “Where were You? Why didn’t You catch me, Father?”

I imagine sometimes God shakes His head and lovingly says, “Really? You’re blaming Me for this?”

Free Will & Faith

The truth is, just like Jake had to learn to ride his bike, we have to learn how to walk in faith. God gives us free will—He lets us make our own choices. And sometimes, we choose to ignore everything He’s taught us. When we tell Him we don’t need His help, He steps back and lets us try it on our own.

But here’s the beautiful part—He never leaves.

Jake eventually learned to ride that bike with confidence. Over time, he mastered balance and braking. Teddy didn’t have to hold on anymore.

And that’s how faith works. As we grow, our relationship with God deepens, and we learn to navigate life with wisdom and trust. It becomes less scary when we remember the lessons our Father has taught us. We know He’s always there, His guidance steady, His presence constant. It’s up to us to remember and apply what He’s taught us—to keep our balance and know when to brake.

The Father’s Love

That first day, Jake crashed. And even though he yelled at his daddy, you know what happened? Teddy scooped him up and comforted him. He couldn’t take the pain away completely—cuts and bruises take time to heal—but just being held made Jake feel better.

God is our Father—our Daddy.

When we crash—when life knocks us down—He is there to scoop us up. The damage may be done. The healing may take time. Bruised egos, broken hearts, wounds to the soul—they don’t mend overnight. But they do heal.

And just like physical scars remind us of lessons learned, so do the scars of our past mistakes. They remind us of where we’ve been and, more importantly, what not to repeat.

So if you’ve fallen—if you’ve crashed—know this: You’re not alone. We all have.

Let your Father comfort you. Give yourself the grace to heal. And remember, keep your balance. Know when to move forward and when to apply the brakes.

He’s got you. Always.

XOXO, Jani

I wrote this forever ago …like 2009 I think. Sometimes, I need to read it again … and again … and again. Maybe some of y’all do too. XOXO

Have you ever been to a rodeo? Cowboys and cowgirls amaze me. They can take the hardest falls, get trampled, bruised, and battered—but they always get back up, dust themselves off, and jump right back in the saddle. Sure, sometimes the injuries are so bad that they need a little medical attention, but eventually, they return to the circuit, good as new.

Now, I’ve never taken a hard fall from a horse. I ride, but I don’t barrel race or bronco bust—no, thank you! I’ve never truly been in the thick of it. And yet, watching those fearless cowboys and cowgirls, I sometimes wonder if I’d have the guts to do what they do.

Our Christian walk? It’s not so different.

Some people prefer to sit safely in the stands or stay on a slow, steady trot—comfortable, content, and secure in their salvation. And that’s fine. But those who never step out of their comfort zone will never experience the thrill of true faith in action.

Every time a cowboy or cowgirl gets thrown, they learn something new. They walk away stronger, better prepared for the next ride. But those sitting in the stands? They may know the mechanics of riding, but they haven’t studied, practiced, or put in the work to prepare for the rodeo.

It’s the same with faith.

Sitting on the sidelines, you might feel a little thrill watching others do God’s work. But oh man! If you’re the one out there, taking the hits, facing the challenges, pushing through in faith—that’s when you truly experience the ride of a lifetime. That’s when you reap the greatest reward.

Salvation isn’t the end of the road—it’s just the beginning. It’s our ticket to Heaven, but what if we lived every day fighting for God, working for His glory, and truly stepping into our calling?

Prepare for the Fight

Here’s the reality: The moment you jump into the ring—as a prayer warrior, a teacher, a youth leader, a fisher of men—Satan takes notice. And he’s going to do everything he can to knock you off course.

Some Christians? They rarely stumble. They have an unwavering strength, an unshakable trust in God, a fortitude that keeps them steady no matter what comes their way.

Me? I’m not one of those Christians.

I burst out of the gate full of fire, and Satan takes me down—hard. But here’s what I’ve learned: You have to get back up. If you stay down, Satan will stomp the living daylights out of you. That’s what he does. That’s what he wants.

So dust yourself off. Climb back in the saddle. And keep riding.

You’re Not Alone

Ever notice those rodeo clowns? They’re always nearby, ready to step in when a cowboy is in trouble. They distract the bull, give the rider a chance to escape, and help them get back on their feet.

In life, we have those people too. Our church elders, family, and friends—they’re our rodeo clowns. When we take a fall, they’re there to help us, to pull us to safety, to pray for us and encourage us when we feel like we can’t get back up.

And the next time you face the fight, you’ll be better prepared. Oh, Satan will still throw new twists and turns your way—but you’ll be ready.

So COWBOY UP! Get ready for the ride of your life. And remember—at the end of this ride, the reward is far greater than anything we could ever imagine.

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He. Before Me no other god was formed, nor will there be one after me.” – Isaiah 43:10

XOXO, Jani

#FaithInAction #CowboyUp #SpiritualResilience #TrustGod