Chivalry at it’s finest!

When I looked up the definition of the word Chivalry this was the definition that really stood out to me in relation to this picture.

Chivalry: “The combination of qualities expected of an ideal knight, especially courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and a “readiness to help the weak.”

My favorite part of this definition is “readiness to help the weak!”

This is my nephew Eli. He’s 8 years old and on a recent visit I watched him in the park as he helped this little girl try to ride “his” bike, notice how I said “his” not “hers”. When I asked him what he was doing he said; “she’s never ridden a bike without training wheels so I’m trying to teach her.”

He literally was holding on to the bike while she learned to balance. The first time she fell she said to him; “Can you help me, can you hold me?” She would ride, fall several times over and over, every single time he would go and help her climb back on and get re-balanced.

I heard Eli say after a few minutes each time; “You want me to let you go now?” and then when she would start to go for a second she would fall. I heard him tell her; “you got to use your breaks when you’re about to fall.” The final release he let her go and she was able to ride on her own. We both clapped our hands for her and cheered her on as she rode for the first time without her training wheels.

It was so beautiful to watch this wonderful display of Chivalry.

As I sat there and watched, I began to think about my own process in life, thinking about how many times I had fallen off the bike when trying to do something for the first time. Remembering so many moments in my life that I didn’t ask for help! I was determined to ride my own bike my own way! Have you ever been there? There are so many lessons we can learn from these children, it reminds me of when Jesus told us to be as “children”; what does that actually mean? As children you don’t think of asking for help as being frail or vulnerable you just do it because it’s what you need and you are trusting that whom you are asking will be there to meet that need.

When those needs were not met as children we grow into adults with scars and it becomes easier to “do it yourself!” Even in my own life I have had to learn again that it’s ok to be that little girl asking for help, asking to be held! To be able to trust that my heavenly Father will hold me and walk with me every step of the way. After all, isn’t He the greatest example of true Chivalry; “Readiness to help the weak!”

I’m reminded of the scripture; “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” Corinthians 12:9 When we ask for Him it is not a sign of weakness but rather a sign of strength.

The older I get, the more I realize my need for the loving Father to hold me when I’m down. I can call on Him and He will answer. I can trust Him to teach me how to step out and do things I’ve never done, and yet still watch me to ensure if I fall, He will be there to pick me up and cheer me on. He’s there to keep the balance and reminds me when I’m going too fast or getting ahead of Him to hit the breaks before I fall. There is such safety, security and assurance in knowing He is my help! He is always looking out for my good!