Out for a walk in the neighborhood I saw a dad and his son with Down syndrome riding bikes. I thought, wow, he must have really good balance and strength because that would be a difficult task for someone with Down syndrome due to their low tone and decreased balance. Then I saw it. They were not on two separate bikes as I had thought, but one that looked like two. The son’s bike’s front wheel had been removed and the bars where the wheel once was was now attached to the dad’s rear tired. His son was riding a bike and pedaling, but his dad was doing the majority of the work. You could see the strain on the dad’s face.

I tried to keep walking, but I was captivated. In a culture in which a man will often leave his wife if they have a child with a disability, this father had chosen to stay. Not only did he stay, but also he was actively involved in the life of his son. In fact, we’ve heard him teaching his son lessons throughout the pandemic. They’re my neighbors.

So I waited to catch a glimpse of them again. Then I took a shortcut to catch them on the backside of the neighborhood before I had to go in, but they ended up taking a different route, too, and I arrived just in time to see them riding down the street, which is downhill.  The dad patiently and gently told his son to slow down and be careful as they approached a speed bump.  

I so wanted to stop my neighbor and share how the way he cares for and loves his son radiated and saturated me with the love of the Father, but I didn’t sense it was the time. A bike accident would ruin the picture I was seeing. I hope to see him when he’s not riding his bike downhill with his son in tow and share with him.

As I returned home, my heart and mind were flooded with so many pictures of God’s love, mercy, and care. I was reminded that it is HIs work. He invites us to come along and be part of what He’s doing, but He bears the brunt of the work. It doesn’t have to take a lot of work on our part. Abide. Rest. Listen. Follow.