You can do hard things.

I pulled the walker out of the car and had just planned on carrying it in one hand and Sledge in the other—but the moment he saw it, he wanted in it. Before I could adjust the strap, he moved it + scooted himself backwards into it, his little hands gripping the sides + his feet already in motion to walk the ramp into school.
“You ready, Bubba? Look at you!”, I exclaimed. And with a smile that took up his whole face, he turned + looked at me like this. His name necklace fully wrecking my soul as I thought, “Sledge—tough as nails.”

I didn’t realize how discouraged my spirit felt about a few things this morning until Sledge’s eyes met mine; I grabbed my phone out of the car + asked him to smile again so I could capture this moment. The Holy Spirit wrapping His arms around my own heart as He whispered, “He has watched you do hard things. Be encouraged.”
😭😭😭😭😭
To be honest, I feel like I’m not doing a whole lot well and this broke me in the best way.

We walked up the sidewalk and I watched his body take on the big view in front of him. Unafraid, expectant, + eager to see His Maker work, I’m convinced Sledge knows something his mama often forgets—that when it feels hard or the situation is uncomfortable or you fall the first time, it is proof that you were MEANT for HARD THINGS! The end of your strength meets the beginning of His + Heavenly partnership happens. You learn that you only want the open doors the Father provides because His provision is like no other—reaching deep into the fabric of your soul + inviting you to into the uncharted waters you see beyond.

I don’t know what soundtrack started playing in your mind this morning or what tune you let speak over your heart. But I do know this—today, you can do hard things. Take heart. God is most present in the storm, even when the clashing of the waves feels louder than His whisper. You haven’t been forgotten. You’re not behind. He sees the open + closed doors. There is so much goodness ahead. His heart is trustworthy + He made you to flourish in this place.

And I would bet, that just like this walker now feels like second nature to Sledge, the unfamiliar won’t seem so scary as you keep showing up 🤍