Lessons From the Monkey Bars

Today, I picked up the Let's All Be Brave by Annie Downs.  Have I mentioned that I love her?  Seriously if she ever reads my blog, I totally want to have coffee and talk about all the things!

It's no surprise that I read something that I totally needed today.  She talked about "the monkey bar option".  You're willing to to let go of one bar because you can see the next one you want to grab.

Immediately I thought about a picture from the newspaper of me circa 1978-79 on the monkey bars.  I found it - because my mother keeps EVERYTHING!  Ok - so just this once I won't be mad at you, Mother! :)

Listen - I had skills.  I could even skip a bar crossing to the other side.  I am sure I was so proud when I got this down.  I don't vividly remember,  but I'm sure this great accomplishment didn't come without slipping and falling.  I think if you look closely you'll see a skinned knee! :)   Can I just sidebar here?  I did remember the skills I had when I was 9, so for some reason I thought they would carry over to my 49 year old self--- let's just say that didn't work out very well when I tried this on the playground recently.

Life is hard.  I don't know anyone who would disagree.  I wish life were like the monkey bars where we always knew how to get across and could see the next bar you needed to grab, where we always knew where the next bar was going to lead.  That would be awesome, however, that requires no trust or faith.   I want to grab on to what I know- where I am comfortable.  It's hard to let go of the known when you realize you are being pushed into the unknown.  In her book Annie writes, "The deeper call for courage comes when you let go with nothing ahead to grab.  She goes on to write, "But only in letting go are your hands free to grab on to the next thing."  Bob Goff writes in Love Does about palms up.  This is the same idea of when your palms are up and open, you then can receive something else to hold.   As a believer, I know this.  I know God's provision first hand, and I have seen him reveal his plan over and over again.  It's difficult for me to see these things in the midst of everything - maybe for you too.  However, I have chosen to be brave this year.  That doesn't come with stipulations like - I'll be brave as long as things are status quo.  This is where I am reminding myself to be careful for what I ask! :)   My word for this year is discipline.  In my mind I was thinking more of eating, exercise, budgeting --- all that.  However, I know God gave me that word to begin preparing me for the spiritual discipline I was going to need because unlike us - He knows the next bar we are going to need to grab.

This little girl on the monkey bars is not a person I really even remember.  I mean it has been like a minute ago.  However,  I wish I could tell her to hang on baby girl even when the struggle seems completely overwhelming--- life is hard.  Life is messy!  There will be nights you wish your eyes wouldn't open the next day, but they do so grab on to the promises of the day.  There will be times you are brought to your lowest.  Be humble and be kind always.  There will be times when you are the happiest you have ever been.  Relish in those moments, but don't hold them so tight you fear to let go when you need to in order to receive something else.  Be brave, little girl, God has a plan.  He will equip and provide.

Friends, be brave today to let go of whatever you may be gripping so tightly.  "Courage doesn't tell you to let go when you know what to grab next.  Brave people let go when it's time to let go.... Be brave enough to empty your hand without seeing the next monkey bar."

Have an amazing week, friends!  Go... BE BRAVE, BE BLESSED, and know YOU ARE EQUIPPED.

XOXO Stacey