Thank You, Dad, for the Bike

Joel had an old bike. It was recovered form a scrap heap behind someone's garage. It had solid rubber tires and a bunch of rags tied around the cross bar to act as a seat. He had looked at new bikes in the store and dreamed of owning one. One with real tires, a real seat and shiny chrome wheels and a nice paint job.

Joel's dad was very kind. If he said he would do something, he always kept his promise. Sometimes it took awhile but Joel knew he always kept His promise. One day his dad came to Joel and said, "I am going to give you a new bike, but you will have to wait a while for it. I want you to trust me and hold on to my promise."

Joel responded, "Thank you Dad, for the bike."

Joel dreamed of riding his new bike, and wondered what it would be like. Joel told everybody that his father was going to give him a bike. Every morning, Joel woke up and said, "Dad, thank you for the bike."

Many days passed and everyday Joel thanked his dad for the bike even though he had not received it.

One day, the bully heard Joel telling everybody that his Father was giving him a bike. The bully laughed at Joel, "Where is it? I don't see any bike."

"It's coming sometime. Whenever my dad decides the time is right."

The bully sneered. "Your dad won't give you a bike. He is just a big liar. He doesn't care. He is just playing a big joke on you."

Joel stood firm. " I am getting a bike because my father told me he was getting it for me, and he always keeps his promise." When the bully was gone, he said, "Thank you, Dad, for the bike." He kept dreaming of riding the bike.

The bully kept sneering and Joel started to wonder if he was really getting a bike. He even started to doubt his father's word. He wanted to believe but it was taking so long.

One day his dad came to Joel and said I have something for you. Maybe this was the day that the promise would come but his father only gave him a set of handlebars. "These are the handlebars for your bike. This is part of the promise so you will know that I have not forgotten my word."

"Dad, thank you for the handlebars." Then he stopped and thought. "Thank you for my new bike."

Dad smiled at Joel. "You know my word is true."

One day, the bully came along and asked Joel what he was holding. Joel told him that it was the promise for his new bike. The bully mocked, "You're crazy, that's not a bike, it's just a handlebar. You can't ride it. " Then he snatched the handlebars from Joel and would not give them back.

Joel demanded that the bully return the handlebars but the bully just twisted the handlebars out of shape and then ran off laughing.

Joel was heart broken. The handlebars of his new bike were stolen.

When his father came, Joel told him how the bully had stolen and then twisted the handlebars of his bike and now they were gone. Then Dad asked, "What have I promised you?"

Joel sobbed, "You promised me a bike but the handlebars are gone and I don't have them anymore."

Joel's father lifted his head and wiped away the tears. "What did I promise you?"

"A new bike." Joel answered.

"Will I keep my promise?" Joel nodded his head in the affirmative. "What does the bully have?" Joel stood thinking, and as he pondered the answer all of a sudden he began to laugh. His father was laughing also.

"All he has is a twisted handlebar." Joel responded.

Then Dad said, "While you will be riding your new bike the bully will be running behind you with the twisted handlebars."

It wasn't long after this that Dad came pushing a new bike. Joel was absolutely amazed. It was better than what he had even imagined.

Joel was anxious to ride it, but before he did he grabbed his father in a hug and said, "Thank you Dad, for the bike."

Dad smiled back, "Thank you for trusting in my word and holding to my promise." As Joel rode away, his father called out "Enjoy the Ride."

***

Many time we have desires that our heavenly Father would take pleasure in giving to us. He promises in His Word that He will keep His promise and meet our needs. He asks us to wait, and in waiting He asks us to trust Him and hold on. Many times the biggest bully ever, satan, tries to intimidate, mock and sneer at the Promise of the Father. Even though we may stand in protest the devil steals our joy, peace and hope. If we remain steadfast and have an attitude of gratitude we will see the pleasure of the Father as He gives us our desires. While we ride the bike of promise in the glory of our Father God, the devil is running behind us holding a useless, twisted handlebar.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23 NKJV

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Galatians 6:9 NKJV

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(c)Joel Heimbecker, 1999