My how fast things can change. A few days ago, I was out enjoying the first day of much-needed break away from my usual work schedule. While out shopping and sharing a few laughs with my mother and sister all seemed well, when my world can tumbling down. Actually it was me who came crashing down face forward on the hard concrete sidewalk. Suddenly I felt myself tilting over fast but had nothing and no one to stop my impending crash.
I hadn’t foreseen this incident and it was not a welcome event but nonetheless it happened. Minus a few scratches and little stiffness, I fared much better than I expected. But as I have replayed that incident in my mind since it happen, I have had many laughs at my expense and walked away with few life lessons from my epic fall.
The unexpected happens
No one sets out to fall or fail but things happen beyond your ability to forecast or control.
Failure (or falling) is not always optional but you have the power to choose what happens next
Of course I would have elected to bypass hitting that concrete but that day the concrete choose to suck me to it like a vacuum sucks up a sock. After any fall or failure, we do have two options: continue lying there or take the necessary steps to get back up.
Others are willing to help you
After hearing my wailing, my family quickly came to my rescue but a total stranger came to help me as well. I didn’t have to ask for aid. She just happened to be at the right place and the right time with the right attitude.
Much of my life has been spent trying to avoid failure but perhaps I have aimed at the wrong goal. There are things I have avoided because I can not foresee all that it entails and I’m afraid of landing flat on my face again. I realize that I know so little but having the stranger come to my aid reminded me that I don’t know the people God will strategically have placed at just the right places when I need them. At some point, we all experience failure but it doesn’t have to define who we are. Instead, we can grab the lessons from it and come out better and wiser people.
Successful people don’t fear failure but understand that it’s necessary to learn and grow from. – Robert Kivosaki
photo credit: bernat… via photo pin cc
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Great reminders – glad you’re okay, Wanda – and that you learned from your fall.
Lessons are all around us, we just need to pay attention. Hope you have a great weekend Joanne.
What a great insight you gained from this Wanda: “I don’t know the people God will strategically have placed at just the right places when I need them.” Thank you for sharing this. You ALWAYS give me something to think about.
Honored that God would use me 🙂
Glad you’re okay, Wanda.
I’m tired of falling. No more please.
Thanks Elizabeth. Some seasons it seems we do more falling/failing than others but seasons eventually change my friend.
sorry about your fall. great thoughts to ponder, though. Falling and failing happen. Picking ourselves up and having caring people around when it happens is what matters. Thanks for sharing. And be careful out there!
Oh I’m trying my best to be extra careful these days. Almost to the point of being paranoid,lol
I am so glad you are okay Wanda! (I must admit that the way you wrote this made me giggle though! Great attitude!) I have come to the point where I am almost too careful to avoid injuring myself; these days I am an injury waiting to happen-ha ha!! It’s so true that some of the toughest lessons that we face are from our failures. But it’s also these same failures that can provide the most useful lessons if we only allow them to be.
Great post friend!
Blessings on your Monday,
Denise
It’s ok if you giggled Denise. I laughed so hard myself after I got up and I’ve been laughing about it for days now (and so has my sister).
Glad to know you fared well with that fall, Wanda. This is such a lesson, a reminder of one of the things I really love about God: He is our helper. People often underestimate the help that is available. God has placed many helpers on this earth and we sometimes fail to notice that until we are in a position where we can really recognize the help. Thanking God for you and for your health and wellness. I am thankful also that you chose joy and laughter in the situation.
My sister says that my pride is what was bruised most of all. LOL. Although, I don’t agree the less more mature me never would have announced to the world that I fell but I’m grateful that God help me to see beyond that and glean more from the incident.
Hey Wanda, sorry about the “Fall” but you handled it well and passed on some valuable insights. I’ve been traveling but I am back. Glad to be visiting and waiting to be visited. Glad you are alright.
Hi Debra, thank you for your concern and always a pleasure to see you stop by. Hope you enjoyed your travels.
“I don’t know the people God will strategically have placed at just the right places when I need them.” I have found this to be true oh-so-many times! Sometimes they aren’t the people I expect, or even necessarily want to be there, but God seems to know that they’re the perfect person for the perfect time!
Very true Meg. God doesn’t always use those feel the most comfortable with to accomplish His purposes for our lives.
Hi Wanda –
Glad that our Lord didn’t allow you to become seriously injured. He’s wonderful…
I appreciate your expressed wise lessons.
Thank you, Wanda
Although I would have like to omitted the fall all together, I’m grateful for goodness through it. Have a great week Sandra.