The Things We Do for Love

My son and I took our bikes up to the bicycle path this morning. The weather was perfect! There were a lot of people riding, rollerblading, walking and jogging who seemed to be in stellar moods. At our halfway/turnaround spot, there was even a dog show! The only hitch? My son has a cool, efficient bike while mine is a less professional model that was won in a Grocery store contest. For every three times I pumped my pedals, my son pumped once. I'm not kidding, I counted! By the time we reached that dog show, I was less than chipper and I could no longer feel my thighs.

In the interest of developing my son's sense of compassion (yeah, that sounds good), I asked him to ride my bike for the first of the last five miles we needed to ride to get back to our car. Let me say that was the best mile of the entire ride for me. I coasted most of the way while watching my boy pump his brains out just to continue moving forward. By the time we reached the one mile marker, he had compassion and empathy for me up the wazoo! When we got home, the first thing he did was tell Dad that Mom needs a new bike. Bless his heart!

During the first leg of our ride, my son didn't even look back to check on me. He was having a wonderful time with the wind in his face, feeling free, and assumed I was enjoying the experience just as fully. I am guilty of the same behavior at times. I get involved in one activity or another, convince others to join me, then forget to check on their progress as I plow full steam ahead through the experience. Sometimes we assume if we are enjoying something, everyone else is, too. Our adventure this morning reminded both my son and I that engaging in an activity together should include regular communication. We can't forget to check in with each other along the way.

"Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out."
1 Thessalonians 5:13-15, The Message

I think I have already picked out a bike that will serve me better and have included a picture here. My boy and I would like to go for a ride together about three times a week, so I'd love to have this issue settled ASAP. Hubby says we'll stop by the bike shop this afternoon. Yay! I hope I'll be able to walk again by then...