Baby Steps
The first steps are always the hardest. One foot, tiny chubby toes grip wood and push up. Then the other. And then standing. So much work, so much fighting and struggling to finally get the small boy body upright and then... step, step, feet in a flurry of steps until .... a padded bottom hits the floor again. He giggles, and up he goes again pushing against the wood planks. Pushing up, up, knees bent as if he might take off, soar suddenly into the air, fly instead of walk. But he doesn't. He falls. Again. Again he gets up. Struggles for balance, teetering precariously. Down again. And watching this I think, "Does he know it will happen?" Does he know that one day he will walk and the struggle of this will be over? This thing that sometimes seems so impossible, will become second nature, without thinking or trying these baby steps will become a run, a glorious dance. Watching this boy-one, sixth child of mine, do this same stumbling ca