That First Step
One of the greatest blessings God ever placed on this earth is babies. You hold that cute cuddly little baby and your heart pounds to a different rhythm. His softness is like nothing you have ever felt. Those tiny little hands, how are they ever going to one day be able to write? Those short, limp, chubby legs, how are they going to ever be able to walk? With half-awake eyes, he looks up at you. He seems totally relaxed.
Then comes the day when he rolls over on his own. Little do you know it, but in that moment everything changes. It’ his first act of independence. He is able to do something on his own for the very first time. The next thing you know, he is pulling himself across the floor. It isn’t long after that when he starts to crawl.
Wait! What’s that he is doing now? He’s pulling himself up to that table. He’s trying to walk but he just doesn’t have that balancing act down yet. A few days later, he has perfected the balancing act. He takes his very first step on his own. Now nothing is safe, nothing. Latches go on the low hanging cabinets and plastic objects are jammed into the electric sockets so he can’t check out Ben Franklin’s invention.
So how does that little bundle of nothing grow up into a living, productive being? How does he learn to walk, to talk, or even eat on his own? How does that little life that depends so much on you ever gain the independence he needs to do things on his own?
The answer to those questions doesn’t require a lot of investigation. More than likely you need to look no further than the mirror. You were always there for the lad, so he learned to trust you. You were always cheering for him, so he learned to seek your approval. You helped him, you bathed him, and you even changed his diaper. This example taught him how much you cared and it inspired him.
He may get mad at you one day and want nothing more to do with you, but each of his footprints has one of your tread marks on it. Each time he sticks his fork in his food, your lessons are being lived out in his life.
His name was James Innes. There are probably very few history books that even have his name printed in them. He was called the “gentleman usher” of the grammar school. He was probably better known for his inspiring motivational speeches. He organized a military unit with other students. This future President would be so inspired by him that he would go buy a rifle and join the college patriots.
His name was Theodorick Bland, Jr. and he is also someone you probably never heard of either. He would lead a group of twenty-four young men on a surprise attack on the Governor’s Palace. They would remove 200 muskets and 300 swords from the palace. This future President was the youngest member of that party.
His name was Colonel Hugh Mercer and unless you live in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area or are a diehard history lover, you have probably never heard of him before. Our young future President would enlist as a cadet in Mercer’s Third Virginia Infantry. This unit would train under General Andrew Lewis, a successful Indian fighter. This Third Virginia Infantry would be known as one of the best trained and most devoted of the war.
His name was Captain William Washington. One of his kinsman was George Washington, who is probably a lot better remembered by history. He would lead a band of fifty men to scout the area before all the other troops arrived for the attack on the well protected city. Our future President was one of those fifty.
His name was Dr. Riker. As our band of fifty neared the city they came up on his house. His dogs started barking and he stormed out of the house cussing and screaming. Our future President would calm him down and once he realized they were part of the rebellion he believed in, he invited them inside to eat. He would then volunteer to go with them as a surgeon.
This Bible hero is one of giants of the Hebrew faith. He would be known for his faith, his strength, and his miracles. He may have been their leader but they caused him more headaches than even the worst job you could image.
He was destined to die. Yet, his Mom and sister came to his rescue and saved him. Not only that, he ended up getting to spend time with his Mom, who got paid to take care of him. After he was weaned, he went to live in a palace where he was raised like a prince.
He saw his native people being mistreated and it really upset him. In his pride, he thought he could be their hero by standing up to the people in the castle who raised him. He would even kill a soldier to prove his loyalty. His people would not be impressed and he would flee the country.
The Hessians were an elite fighting group hired by the British to protect Trenton, New Jersey and to help to defeat those pesky colonists during the Revolutionary War. They were very professional and very good at the art of war. They were no easy target, but that is exactly who General George Washington decided to target with his first offensive strike of the Revolutionary War. He was relying on the art of surprise.
General Washington sent these fifty men to prepare the way for his troops. As the troops prepared to attack, the Hessians realized they were caught off guard. They tried to mount two cannons to slow the American assault. Captain Washington and Lieutenant James Monroe led their company in a charge to turn back the Hessians before they could accomplish their attack. They would succeed and they even captured the cannons. Trenton would fall back into the American’s hands.
In the days before women were considered equals, daughters usually had one purpose. They were good at capturing strong, able young men to help their father’s clan run better or be stronger. Sons were the prize of the fathers. Second best were sons-in-law.
Jethro wasn’t that lucky. All he had was daughters, seven of them in all. When the young, strong, handsome prince crossed one of his daughter’s path, he probably thought he struck gold. When his daughter decided to marry the prince, the Father-in-law was overjoyed. He now had that strong son he had been missing. He would teach the son-in-law all he knew about farming and survival.
Both James Monroe and Captain Washington were seriously injured during the raid on Trenton. Monroe would have probably died if not for Dr. Riker being there to tend to him. Dr. Riker? You remember him? He was the doctor Monroe settled down on the way to the attack.
Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, could be proud his son-in-law used what he taught Moses to guide the Israelites through the wilderness. And when Moses would get frustrated because he was overworked, his father-in-law would come and calm him down again. Jethro would explain that Moses needed to delegate more of the work to other people. Moses would listen.
Some morning you just wake up doubting your worth. “If you weren’t around, nobody would even notice,” you think. “You try and you try, but nobody appreciates anything you do,” so your pity continues.
Sometimes we are the one being encouraged to walk, talk, or eat on our own. Sometimes it is someone else who we are asked to teach and encourage in their task. Sometimes it takes one James Innes, one Theodorick Bland, Jr., one Hugh Mercer, one Andrew Lewis, one William Washington, and one Dr. Riker to make one President James Monroe. Sometimes it takes one Mother, one sister, one Pharaoh, one wife, and one father-in-law to make one Moses.
Even the greatest prima donna isn’t self-made. We are the sum of all those who have help us with even the smallest details of our life. Sometimes we are called to be the recipient of others’ encouragement and sometimes we are called to be the one giving assistance. We may not be called to be a President Monroe or a Moses, but that doesn’t mean our contributions aren’t just as important to make this world a better place.
Prayer: Dear Mighty Father, In those times when I see others standing out in the crowd, please let me know that my contribution never goes unnoticed with You. When I’m not called to be in the spotlight, let my part play an important role in someone else’s ability to perform for the task at hand. Thanks for the times I have been able to help others excel. Amen.
