Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Proverbs 4:25
I had a brilliant idea, if I do say so myself, to buy an exercise ball that could be used as a chair for my desk. It would help my posture and maybe even work my core. After finishing a workout the other day, I was using that ball to simply relax and stretch out sore muscles. My back was on the ball, my arms were out to my sides not quite touching the ground, and my toes were helping me balance…barely. I guess I didn’t have great stability in my backbend position, plus I’m a little short.
My oldest son was sitting behind me on the couch with an ottoman in front of him. The pup started barking, and my ever so helpful son told me that his dad was home. I would’ve never guessed! I’m still sprawled out on the ball when out of the corner of my eye I saw the dog pivot away from the window and head in my direction towards the door.
What do you think happened? Did the pup knock me off the ball? Absolutely not; he didn’t even get passed me before I lost my focus, and therefore, my balance. The ball started rolling backwards with me still on it. My arms and legs were completely off the ground at this point, and all I could do was tuck and roll. I believe that I performed some sort of awesome backward somersault that would impress even the best gymnast. There was only one problem that kept me from a solid 10. I slid sideways, and the ottoman stopped my momentum. I took a corner to the leg.
Please remember my considerate son that is watching all this go down. Did he try to stop the ball from its out of control rolling? Nope! Did he reach down his hand to help me up? Nope! That would be too hard to do when one can’t stop laughing. It had nothing to do with his strength since he finds it so amusing to lift me right off my feet a little too often.
I was lying there a little stunned while that wonderful son of mine met me hubby at the door to tell him he needed to help me up, which sparked another series of guffaws from himself. My hubby rushed into the living room with a worried look on his face and confusion radiating off him due to the laughing hyena still at the door. The look on his face sent me into a fit of giggles as I explained the situation and how I could already feel my leg bruising!
With as much dignity as I could muster, I informed my hubby I didn’t need help and could get up on my own thank-you-very-much. I promptly told him it was his fault because he started the chain reaction when he pulled into the driveway. He just shook his head, and I could tell he was thinking that we were all nuts and wasn’t ever sure what he’d be walking into when crossing the threshold into our circus that we call family.
The next day, my oldest asked me how my leg was while one side of his mouth kept creeping up as he was trying to hold in another laugh. I took great pleasure in seeing his eyes bulge when I lifted the bottom of my pants to show him the two-inch by one-inch dark purple bruise that took up residence on my leg. It was the perfect opportunity to say, “And you just thought it was sooo funny.” A little guilt might’ve been good for him; however, I ruined it with another chuckle.
How often do we try to stay balanced when we know that any given moment the slightest thing could cause us to topple? The pup never pushed me over; that was all my doing. It all had to do with my focus. As soon as I looked off to the side, I was a goner! As it says in Proverbs, we need to let our eyes look straight ahead and fix our gaze directly before us.
Instead of having a wobbly foundation, I challenge you to allow your faith to become planted like the roots from the strongest of trees so when the wind blows from the east or west you’re able to bend but won’t go tumbling down. When a situation crops up that you weren’t expecting, you can stay balanced without toppling over because you’re focused on the promises of God. Your eyes will be directly on Him.
I challenge you to have a couple verses that can be referred to for you to stay balanced. Don’t allow distractions cause you to tumble!
