The Determination of a Child

A story of a young girl who struggled to walk can teach us important lessons about moving forward with determination in our spiritual development.

Let me share with you a mother’s story about her daughter. When her daughter was 2 years old, this mother noticed that her little girl kept falling down, suffering minor bruises and injuries. By close observation, she noticed her daughter would trip over her feet. It seemed there was a more serious problem than just learning how to walk.

She took her little girl to a doctor, and she was diagnosed with a problem that (according to the physician) would prevent her from running, jumping and playing like other children. But the doctor did offer a possible treatment. The doctor suggested the child be put in shoes connected to a bar for a period of time, with the hope that this would straighten the ankles and correct the problem.

It was not an easy form of treatment. It resulted in sleepless nights, a screaming child and no immediate resolution to the problem. But the mom noticed that, while wearing the braces, her daughter made adjustments to move around.

The little girl grew and suffered the teasing and laughter of others as they noticed how she stood with her feet pointed in. She would practice turning her feet outward, determined to walk and stand as normally as she could.

At the age of 6, she walked down the aisle as a flower girl. At 12, she learned to play tennis; and at 14, she performed two dance routines in high school. As I heard the mom speak, I was amazed at the young girl.

I learned three valuable lessons from this story—three lessons that are important for me to remember as I continue with diligence and determination to complete my spiritual development plan.

Keep getting back up

The mother explained how her daughter would continually fall down. Although she was hurt, she would always get back up. The little girl did not allow falling to keep her down and make her give up.

This has an important parallel in our Christian lives. We will slip and fall on occasion. We will make mistakes and sin. After we realize we have slipped and fallen spiritually, we have two options: 1) give up, or 2) get back up and try again. Sin should make us fall down on our knees in prayer, asking for God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9); but we should not stay down to wallow in self-pity (Psalm 51:12). Understanding the power of God’s mercy and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ should help us keep going and keep trying to overcome, with confidence that our sins have been forgiven.

Make adjustments as you go

As she progressed, the little girl would constantly make adjustments in how she walked.

When we make a mistake or get off track, we can beseech our Heavenly Father for forgiveness, repent and make adjustments in our lives. We have to analyze the root problems behind our sins and then adjust our lives accordingly. For instance, are we putting ourselves in a situation that tempts us to sin? If so, we have to adjust our lives to avoid that situation. There are times when adjustments will cause temporary disruption in our lives. The biggest adjustment we always need to make is to strengthen our faith in God more, pray more, study the Bible more, fast more and meditate more.

Stay determined to accomplish your goal

The little girl in the story took great joy in being the flower girl, and she radiated happiness as she danced across the stage while her beaming mother looked on! These small accomplishments were built on her determination. Our spiritual accomplishments are greater in comparison. With God’s help, we can stay determined to “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

The little girl in the story was me.

My experience learning to properly walk as a child—through determination to go forward, making adjustments and staying determined to accomplish my goal—has taught me the need to do all those things spiritually. I still point my feet out when I notice they are turning in, and I occasionally stumble a bit, physically and spiritually. But, along with the rest of God’s people, I am determined to move forward with the help of God the Father and our supportive older Brother, Jesus Christ.