Lessons from a Ski Instructor

"Falling is a part of learning", she said, as we shuffled our feet onto the snowy ramp and looked behind us for the incoming chair. "That's a good ski instructor" I thought to myself as I loaded the Kanc Quad with a beginner skier and her seasoned teacher. It's very common for new skiers to become frustrated and embarrassed about how much they fall when learning to ski or snowboard. I admired this instructor's ability to assure her student she need not feel that way.

Since that day, I've adopted the same phrase while teaching my daughters how to ski and ride bikes. More recently I've been thinking about how it applies to us spiritually. I think it's pretty common for people to think that once they become a Christian, they won't struggle with old sinful habits anymore. This is not the case. I believe God, in his grace, allows us to fall so that we are reminded that we don't have it all together and we still need His grace, forgiveness, healing, and instruction. This reminder makes me thankful for Jesus, who took the fall for me when he was beaten, mocked, and scorned while he hung on a cross for my sins. And when I feel ashamed, frustrated or embarrassed about how I've failed, it makes me even more thankful for His words, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do".