Bungled Verses & Tipping Bikes

“For God so loved the. . . the. . . .” Emily scrunched her eyes as she tried to think of the next word in her memory verse.

“The world,” Jessie hinted.

“Oh, I’m never gonna get all these memory verses down,” said Emily.

“Hi, girls,” said Emily’s dad. “What are you up to?”

“Hi, Daddy,” said Emily, frowning.

“What’s wrong?”

Emily heaved a big sigh. “I’m trying to memorize Bible verses.” She handed a sheet of paper to her dad.

“Wow!” Dad looked at the list. “That’s a lot. Where’d you get this?”

“Miss Christy gave it to everyone in Kids’ Club. We’re learning about spiritual training,” Jessie explained to her uncle.

“Spiritual training? That’s important,” Emily’s dad replied.

“Yeah, we’ve been working on these verses since last Sunday,” said Jessie.

“I’m on the third one,” said Emily. “They’re getting harder, and I don’t think I can do them all. I already know the first two. Isn’t that enough?”

“Well, training isn’t supposed to stop when it gets harder,” answered her dad. “You practice one thing until you get it and then add something else so you keep getting better.”

“And remember, Miss Christy said it would take time,” Jessie encouraged her cousin.

“Right now, my brain is tired, and I keep bungling my verses,” Emily moaned.

“Let’s take a break and ride our bikes,” Jessie suggested.

“Okay!” Emily agreed.

Soon Jessie and Emily were standing in the driveway with their bikes, geared up and ready to ride. “There’s Justin and Ellie.” Jessie pointed to their friend and his little sister as they came up the sidewalk. Justin pedaled his bicycle, and Ellie rode her tricycle.

Emily’s brother, Jeremy, rode his bike out of the garage, too. “Hey, Justin!” he shouted, “Let’s practice some tricks.”

“Sure!” Justin called back.

The two boys rode around in tight circles holding on with just one hand! The girls laughed when Ellie let go of one of her handlebars and squealed, “I doin’ twicks, too!”

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do tricks like my brother,” said Emily. “I’ve still got training wheels on my bike.”

“Maybe it’s time to take them off.”

Emily spun around to see her dad standing there with a wrench in his hand. “What do you think, Emily? Are you ready to move on in your training?”

“That would be great, Emily!” said Jessie. “You don’t have to do any tricks like the boys. They’ve been practicing a lot. But you can ride on just two wheels, like me.”

Emily stared wide-eyed at her bike as if it would bite her. “I . . . I don’t know.”

“Come on,” urged Jessie. “Your training wheels helped you at first, but you don’t need them anymore.”

“Okay,” agreed Emily.

Emily’s dad smiled and bent down to unfasten the training wheels.

“But what if I fall over?” Emily asked fearfully. “Or what if I crash and break my bike—or break my leg?!”

Dad looked up. “You’ll have to learn to balance differently, but you just put your feet on the ground if you start to tip. And if you do fall, that’s what all your gear is for—to protect you.”

“You’ll do fine, Emily. Watch me!” Jessie climbed on her bike and rode around in a perfect circle. “It just takes practice.”

Emily’s dad finished removing the training wheels. “Okay, Princess,” he said, “climb on.” Emily sat on the seat and put her feet on the pedals while her dad held the bike up.

“Look straight ahead and pedal while I help you stay up.” Emily and her dad moved slowly down the sidewalk together several times. “Now, see if you can do the same thing without me,” said Dad. He gave Emily’s bike a little push. Off she went, tottering back and forth.

Suddenly, the bike tipped a little too much. “Whooah!” Emily shouted as she lost her balance. Crash—kerplunk! Emily sprawled in the grass next to the sidewalk.

Jessie and Emily’s dad ran to her. “Are you all right?” they asked.

“I told you I would crash!” she wailed.

“But are you hurt?” asked Dad.

Emily stopped and thought for a second. Hmm . . . she didn’t feel any pain. “I guess I’m fine,” she said as she sat up.

“See? I told you it would be all right,” said Jessie. “Try again!”

“You want to wide my twicycle?” offered Ellie as she stopped next to Emily. “It won’t tip over.”

“Thanks, Ellie. But I need to learn to ride mine.” Emily rose with determination and picked up her bike.

Before long, Emily was pedaling crookedly down the sidewalk as Jessie rode nearby. Emily’s bike wobbled around, but she learned to catch herself with her feet before she tipped too far over. “I think I’m getting it!” She laughed as she put her feet back on the pedals.

Emily’s mom came outside to watch with her dad as Emily steered her bike up the sidewalk and turned around to ride back.

“Whew!” exclaimed Emily happily. “I guess practicing really does help.”

“Hey, Emily!” Jeremy shouted. “Try this!” Everyone stopped to watch Jeremy speed off a small ramp into the air and then make a perfect landing.

“I not doin’ dat twick,” said Ellie seriously.

“Me neither, Ellie. I think that’ll take a bit more training,” said Emily. “But I’ll get there! Just you wait and see.”

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