Many hours I spent pushing our nephew in his toddler swing. Graduating to a big kid swing pushing until he learned to pump his legs. It seems not so long ago. Now he's seventeen.
Then as a mom and not an aunt I spent countless hours pushing my own son. Pushing as he laughed and laughed. The simplest of joys lighting up his face.
What is it about swings that bring such joy? Such delight?
Perhaps the soothing motion of the back and forth, up and down. How many naps did my son take in his baby swing when nothing else would soothe him? One of my dad's favorite places to sit is his front porch swing. There is a comfort in a gentle swing.
Is it the thrill you feel inside as you go higher and higher? Or is it the feeling of almost touching the sky? That you can go higher and higher. Do you remember the rush of pumping your legs swinging higher and higher and leaping out of the swing? Seeing the ground you know you can jump and reach the ground with relative safety.
Life is filled with certain uncertainties. Our pastor shared a message series recently entitled Doors about God's will. His moral will and His sovereign will. One point he made in the message about God's sovereign will was that we can expect uncertainties.
We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
God isn't going to give us all the details. If He did we why would we need Him?
We have to grow in our faith enough and learn to step out in trust. If we don't we will never know how high we can go or feel the joy He wants us to know.
We have to leap out of the swing even though we can't see the ground beneath. The irony is that when we learn to leap is when we will find His comfort and peace.
Are you learning to leap?
Linking up for the Swings Blog Carnival at the blog of Peter Pollock.
there is a comfort in a swing. i use to jump out of swings after pumping as high as i could...but, now, i just like to gently swing.
but, i still like the point you are making, since i can remember the jumping very well.
Posted by: nance maire | July 26, 2011 at 12:36 AM
I love to swing. Until I discover that it can at times make me motion sick. :-) I have 3 porch swings at different places around my house; they're my favorite kinds of swings.
"The irony is that when we learn to leap is when we will find His comfort and peace."
So true! I'm trying...
Posted by: Lisa notes... | July 26, 2011 at 07:14 AM
We built a swing set in our back yard. One of the things I insisted on was that the swings be sturdy enough to hold an adult, because I've never lost my loving of swings. My son is 5'-9" and he still enjoys the swing. It is comforting.
I always imagined I would get going so high that I would do a complete 360 around. Never got there, but never stopped trying.
Posted by: katdish | July 26, 2011 at 08:38 AM
I will still swing on my sons on occasion. Not often enough. I can imagine you trying to do a 360 around it. :) -- Amy
Posted by: amykiane | July 26, 2011 at 08:49 AM
I can understand the motion sickness. I cant do rollercoasters or back seats of cars because of it. And Im still trying to learn to leap and know there will be peace also. Thanks for stopping by! -- Amy
Posted by: amykiane | July 26, 2011 at 09:02 AM
Thank you for stopping by my blog! I prefer the gentle swings now also, but there was always a thrill about jumping. -- Amy
Posted by: amykiane | July 26, 2011 at 09:03 AM
Lovely post -- I always tried to do the 360 -- and I can still swing and go around in circles. Not sure what that says about me -- but I do like to leap! And I am finding that place of comfort and peace more reassuring.
Thanks for a beautiful read this morning.
Posted by: Louise | July 26, 2011 at 09:23 AM
I was never a risk taker. I didn't like to go too high, and I never jumped. I just liked the soothing nature of swinging.
Posted by: Helen | July 26, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Um, ditto to Helen's comment. I NEVER jumped. Ever. That's terrifying.
The problem is, that kind of reflects my life in general. I'm afraid to take risks, I'm afraid of looking stupid, and I'm afraid of failure. I may be missing out on a lot, but I'm safe here with what I know. It's one thing my husband gets frustrated with me about a lot!
Posted by: Lainie Gallagher | July 26, 2011 at 09:27 PM
Thanks for the reminder of our children enjoying their baby swings and progressing to the swing set in the yard. Yes the swing is a joy a comfort, a therapy!
Posted by: Hazel Moon | July 27, 2011 at 01:46 AM
Beautiful post, Amy. Worry is a great enemy of faith. We need to be willing to swing!
Posted by: Carl | July 27, 2011 at 05:42 AM