Baby Steps of Faith

When I was 10 years old one of my greatest friends in life was born. My sister, Lorel, spiced up our family-life from day one. She’s always been a trailblazer and the recipient of a vast amount of mostly useful knowledge from her four siblings.

When Lorel was a newborn, I had no clue of the immense responsibility on my parent’s shoulders. They had moved our family to Wichita Falls just a few short years earlier for Dad to start a new business, Red River Electronic Calculator Company. Dad had developed an appreciation for this line of work when he served in the Army and had to determine food rations for the troops based upon formulas and mechanical adding machines. The advance in technology – with electronics – made problem-solving much easier and opened up new possibilities. Dad was just downright gutsy to move to an unknown city and start a new business with so many mouths to feed. The birth of Lorel made it a total of seven. Dad was a salesman and he had to sell calculators to support the family. In the beginning, Dad was his own salesperson, serviceperson, and bookkeeper. 

In addition to guts, fortitude, and an uncompromising work ethic, my parents were greatly assisted by a higher power. Their union was strengthened by the gift of faith in Christ, which they put into consistent practice.

From my earliest memories, I recall us always going to church together as a family. We prayed before meals. We prayed before bedtime. I especially recall Mom praying for Dad when we were young, genuinely requesting God’s favor to be with him, to keep him safe, and help him with the business.

Dad’s work occasionally required him to travel. Mom did a great job while Dad was away. She always made home-cooked meals, sewed our clothes, made us do chores, and created a home full of love. We really missed Dad when he was gone, however.

I remember one night when Dad returned home from a trip. Lorel was almost a year old at the time. She was pulling up but hadn’t walked yet. Etched in my memory is the scene of Dad walking in the house and Lorel being utterly thrilled down to her tiny toes to see him. She was so excited in fact that she let go of the furniture she had pulled up on and reached her arms out to Dad. He immediately fell to his knees and extended his arms out to her. He said, “Come to Daddy! You can do it.” 

Lorel was so determined to get to Dad, she forgot she didn’t know how to walk. She put one wobbly foot in front of the other and made her way to Dad where she disappeared in his engulfing hug as we all cheered with joy. She was overwhelmed with trust, love and motivation that allowed her to take one baby step of faith after another.

Little did I know at the time that God was teaching me a life-lesson at age 10. Sometimes we have to let go of what’s secure to step for something greater. Sometimes we feel awkward and unsteady as we stretch out to grow. Sometimes we may even stumble and fall but there’s a great reward for the effort because God is always waiting for us with open arms.

It comforts me greatly to know that God’s unfailing love goes before us into each night as we sleep and ahead of us into each new day. But in order for us to experience the adventure – the blessings – that He has uniquely prepared for each of us, we must take baby steps of faith.