My Falls

Over the past three years, I have fallen five times. Fortunately, in only one fall was my body damaged more than my pride, so I can laugh at myself as I describe these falls to friends. You may be wondering, why is this woman falling? Well, I recently discovered that many of my retired friends and I are falling due to imbalance.

The wonderful thing is, so far, we all got up! Let me give you more details of my falls. Once I was heading toward a parking lot to get my car.

I had no reason to be hurrying because I was going home with no time limit for getting there. As I neared my car, I started trying to retrieve my car key from my handbag. Doing so distracted me from focusing on the pathway to my goal.

I stubbed my toe and fell to the ground, flat on my face.

My body and face showed evidence of that fall for days.

Thanks be to God, my injuries were reparable, but the experience has kept me more focused as I walk daily. Prior to another fall, I was too proud to seek help in hanging a line across my back patio. In order to hang the line, I needed to be higher, so I chose to climb onto a folding stool. Fortunately, I had the sense (or divine intervention led me) to place the stool against a firm support.

The stool folded beneath me. When it folded, I was able to cling to that support and gracefully slide to the ground. Once again, I got up.

I recognized, painfully then, the danger of pride and also that at seventy-two years of age, it’s now time for me to let the younger ones climb while I guide and instruct. On three occasions, I lost my balance and fell. In one instance, two relatives were close enough to grab and support me, soften the fall, and lift me to my feet again. In another, it was a total stranger who helped me up. In yet another, I was all alone when I hit the ground; I just sat there and prayed before moving. Thanks be to God, He got me up. Sisters, my falls have spiritual applications for all of us. We must take care not to fall because of life’s distractions, personal pride, or imbalance.

We need to learn to accept help from God and from those He sends to our aid. So, today, let us resolve to empathize with, help, and restore those among us who fall spiritually, because when we least expect it, we, too, may fall!

Cecelia Grant