Hand Over Hand We Grow

“I can’t do this, Mom. It feels weird. It’s too hard.”

“Cursive is hard. I’ll hold your hand until you get the feel of it.”

In school we call that “hand over hand.” Teachers go “hand over hand” if something is really hard to do. It is a prompt for the most needy and the least independent.

When a student cannot trace a letter or cut a straight line, teachers may guide his hand. Moms steer little spoons held by chubby hands into mouths by holding those hands in ours.

Cursive is hard. That’s why Gabe’s wanted to quit after two minutes. Loving like Jesus loved is hard, too.

We need our Father’s help to love like this. Thankfully, as C.S. Lewis put it, “He puts a little of His love into us and that is how we love one another […] We love because God loves and reasons and holds our hand while we do.”

Gabe eventually mastered those looping letters. His cursive is at least legible. In physical life, growing up means less dependence on Mom and Dad. Independence means maturity. But spiritually, it’s the exact opposite. We’ll never grow so mature that we need God less. Instead, as we grow in faith, we become even more dependent on our Heavenly Father.

The hand that created the world (Acts 7:50) and feeds it good things (Psalm 104:28) is the same hand that holds our times (Psalm 31:15) and even our breath (Daniel 5:23). What would it look like for you to welcome God’s guiding fatherly hand holding yours today?

“Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand” (Psalm 73:23).