When we were teaching our one daughter how to ride her bike without training wheels we all learned a lesson.  When life pushes you down, you get back up and try again.  Learning to ride a bike can be scary, frustrating and difficult.  Once you learn though, it is a life time task.  You never forget how to pedal your feet and keep your balance.  Don't we wish that was true for other aspects of our lives?  It feels like when something bad happens, we easily lose our "balance."  We fall and sometimes forget how to get back up and try again. 

I remember when my daughter was riding her bike and I was trailing behind holding her seat, she was comfortable and confident.  As soon as I let go for her to try on her own, she got nervous and would stop.  Don't we wish there was always someone there to give us that extra little "push" or that guidance we crave. 

It has taken me a few years to get a handle on losing my parents and living my life without them.  I felt like my world was rocked and I didn't want to get back up and try again.  I was scared, frustrated and my new life was difficult.  Then I took a look at my children and I thought, "I have no excuse."  They are my life and I WILL NOT GIVE UP.  I will fight with all my heart and soul to be here for them.  Not just be here but be happy, be thankful, and be grateful for all that I DO have.  Life is not easy but it is possible. 

Experiencing hard times teaches us to live life to the fullest, to wake up every day and be thankful, to stop and REALLY smell the roses, to let the laundry go so we can play with our kids, to dream and to always have faith... to never give up. 

I often think about the lessons I want my children to learn.  The kind of women I want them to become. 
I think this lesson of falling down, getting back up and always trying again is one of the most important.  What life lessons do you want your children to encompass? 

Your heart is a sun
Joy its stars,
Faith a moon, shining in your darkness
~ Terri. Guillemets