Everyone is good at something. As for me, I am very skilled at falling. Seriously, you have to know how to fall so that you won’t be seriously injured. By the way, it doesn’t work as well when you fall backwards.
When I was in the fourth grade, we were playing outside one day. For some reason, we decided to have a race. Then someone had the bright idea for us to run backwards. We all readily agreed since we had never done that before and it sounded like fun. Eagerly, I lined up backwards with my friends. It never occurred to me that it would be that much different than running forwards.
“Get ready. Set. Go!” As soon as I heard that, I took off running as fast as I could. Needless to say, I quickly lost my balance and fell backwards. Instinctively I place my arms out behind me to catch myself. As I fell, I managed to twist my body around so my full weight didn’t land on both of my wrists. My left one was hurt more that the right one. Let me tell you, it hurt. I got up and tried to shake it off as I usually did, but the pain didn’t lessen. At all. I told my teacher the pain was making me nauseous, so she called my mom. She had to leave work and take me to the doctor. To be honest, I was a little embarrassed when I told him how I had gotten hurt. He X-rayed my wrist. Fortunately, nothing was broken and I had just sprained it. Years later my cousin and best friend Lynda wasn’t so lucky.
I think this happened around ten years ago. Lynda went to a skating birthday party for one of our friends’ daughter. She talked Lynda into putting on a pair of roller skates for old times’ sake. Back when we were teenagers, we used to go skating all the time. Lynda was a really good skater. She could even skate backwards with ease. I never got the hang of that and I was too afraid to practice it. I didn’t want to fall on my wrists again. Anyway, as soon as Lynda tied her skates on, she tries to stands up. Immediately she fell backwards onto the concrete floor. She did the same as I had years earlier in that she instinctively placed her hands behind her to break her fall.
The first thing she noticed was the terrible pain in her both of her wrists. Our friend asked if she was okay. Lynda answered, “No. I’m not.” Our friend called Lynda’s husband. He didn’t realize how much pain she was in or the extent of her injuries until he got to the skating rink. From there he took her on to the emergency room where they discovered she had broken both of her wrists. They had to put titanium plates and screws in both wrists. She was out of work for two weeks. Her family had to do everything for her.
“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” Proverbs 24:16 (KJV)
Not all falls are physical ones. They can be mistakes and missteps as well. Either way, we all fall from time to time. It’s different when Believers fall because we have The Lord to help us back up. It may not be in the manner and/or timing that we want, but He will be there for us.
You know, now that I think about it, I should put my falling skill on my resume. I don’t know if it should be listed under Skills or Hobbies. What do you think?
Brooke Cox is an author, speaker, and storyteller. She was a 2016 Selah Awards Finalist for Debut Novel. Her children’s book: “Dinosaur Eggs,” is now available. It is based on Ephesians 6: The Armor of God. Her novel “Until the Moon Rises: A Conniving Cousin Mystery” is also available. Also, she has two books out in her storytelling series: “Saucy Southern Stories.” The Amazon links for her books may be found on her website: brookecoxstories.com. Please feel free to contact her. She would love to hear from you.