Billy Coffey
Billy Coffey

Jump

October 20, 2009  

Photo courtesy of Photobucket.com

Photo courtesy of Photobucket.com

I hold out my hands and say, “Jump.”

My daughter stands on the edge of my bed, arms up and shaking. She giggles the way little girls do, part amused and part terrified. And she says, “I’m scared.”

“Why?” I answer. “You know I’ll catch you.”

“But what if you don’t?” she wonders.

“What if I do?”

“But what if…you don’t?”

She giggles again at the father/daughter version of Abbot and Costello and looks down. The carpet seems soft enough to cushion a fall, but maybe not a fall from that height. Her parents’ bed is high. Very high. High enough that if she stretched out her hand, she could almost touch the ceiling.

She’s torn. Jumping would be fun. Being caught would be fun. But jumping and not being caught? No fun at all.

But then I say the two words she really wants to hear. Words of assurance and truth. Words a father not only says, but means.

“Trust me,” I say.

Her giggle turns to a smile which turns to tightened lips of determination. She bends over and crouches down, ensuring her spindly legs give her the maximum jump possible.

In the movie that seems to constantly play in my mind, things always seem to progress in a predetermined manner designed to make me look as good as possible to the most amount of people. Unfortunately, that movie rarely compliments reality. Not only do I royally screw up from time to time, I’m often the victim of life’s cruel timing.

Because just as my daughter crouched down to jump, I started to sneeze.

I’ve never been able to stop a sneeze. I’ve heard it was possible, I’ve even seen some people do it, but it’s always been more of a postponement than anything else. My nose began to itch with fire, my eyes watered, and my head leaned backward. I was so consumed with what was happening that I couldn’t tell my daughter to wait. Just a second. That’s all I needed.

But little girls tend to be both impatient and steadfast in their decisions, and she had decided she was going to jump and nothing was going to stop her.

The moment she bounded from the bed and into the air was the very moment my head swung forward and sneezed, expelling both air and whatever else outward from my mouth in speeds up to 100 mph. I couldn’t cover my face because my arms were still valiantly trying to catch her. There was no buffer between my airborne germs and her airborne everything.

She winced in mid air, and that was the last I saw of her. Because not only is it impossible to stop a sneeze, it’s also impossible to keep your eyes open when it happens.

The full force of the air hit her square in the face and we collided, sending us flailing backward into the open closet. Arms and legs tangle with jeans and T shirts. The air smells of detergent and confusion.

I raise my head out of a pile of dirty socks to see that one of our legs has knocked over the hamper, and I fumble around for my daughter to make sure she’s still breathing.

But I don’t have to fumble. I hear. And I remember that the only thing louder than a little girl laughing is a little girl crying.

“You didn’t catch me!” she screams.

I pick her up and comfort her as best I can, and my wife sits her on the bed and scolds us both on the dangers of roughhousing inside. Band-Aids are deployed to cover nicks and scratches, both visible and not. But there’s no Band-Aid that can cover the fact that I didn’t catch my daughter. That she trusted me and I didn’t deliver.

Boo-boos mostly healed, we sit together on the edge of the bed and ponder. This is a powerful lesson, though one jumbled amongst bumped elbows and wounded pride.

Then: “God would have caught me.” She says it to the carpet and not to me. She knows she can’t hurt the carpet’s feelings.

“Yes,” I say.

“It was just an accident, right?”

“Yes.”

“I still love you, Daddy.”

“And I love you.”

“But I think from now on I’m going to trust God more than you, if that’s okay.”

“I think that’s probably a good idea,” I tell her.

We both sit, silent but better, thankful that God can always be trusted. That He’ll always catch us, because He never sneezes.

 

For more stories about Trust, check out the blog carnival at One Word at a Time.

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Comments

  • http://www.chrissulli.com Chris Sullivan

    I have different varieties of sneezes. There are ones I can stop and ones that cause me to pull muscles. I should probably write my post on trust huh?

  • http://www.randommusings-helen.blogspot.com Helen

    Oh Billy, I am so sorry you had to sneeze! You are such a good dad, and that imperfect human timing had to hurt you even more than it did her. I am glad that you were both able to discuss God’s infallibility from it.

  • http://weightwhat.blogspot.com Wendy

    If that were me and my daughter, I’d be hearing for years about the time I didn’t catch her. Glad your daughter is more forgiving! Good thing God doesn’t sneeze.

  • http://www.BridgetChumbley.com Bridget

    I know I’m a big baby, but this made me cry! I understand so wholly how you must have felt, feeling like you’d let your daughter down. You are a terrific dad, Billy… but we are human. *sigh*

    Thank you for sharing this story (people were starting to wonder about the being ‘perfect’ thing).

  • Colleen Foshee

    You know, after reading the end of your sneeze tale, I have to wonder if the Holy Spirit didn’t tickle your nose. What a sweet God moment you guys ended up with. Priceless.

  • http://blog.hafchurch.org/peter/ PeterP

    I had a similar experience with one of my cousins when she was little. She was jumping off the couch and I was catching her… then, one time, in my teenage stupidity I decided to not catch her because it would be ‘funny’.

    She eventually forgave me but still remembers it to this day, a decade or two later!

    Great post, Sir Billy.

  • http://lexiconluvr.blogspot.com L.T. Elliot

    A great lesson in how God doesn’t sneeze (and always catches us) but that sometimes, we fall. Sometimes we can’t save everyone. And sometimes, we just need a little forgiveness and understanding.

  • http://bulletsandbutterlflies.blogspot.com/ Russell Holloway

    Nice post Billy. It sounds like your daughter will be as wise as her father someday.

  • http://www.ubervu.com/conversations/www.billycoffey.com/2009/10/jump/ uberVU – social comments

    Social comments and analytics for this post…

    This post was mentioned on Twitter by billycoffey: New post! The day I didn’t catch my daughter ~ http://bit.ly/3nGlAr…

  • http://forevrenevernalways1.blogspot.com Jill

    Awww Billy – God used you to teach your daughter a very valuable lesson! One she got that many adults still don’t understand – no matter what! We can trust Him always in every situation! That we should trust Him before anyone or anything else! You are doing a great job and that sneeze helped teach you both a lesson that will mold her into the daughter you truly hope she will remain forever! A lover of God first!

    Hugs and blessings,
    Jill

  • Katdish

    “The air smells of detergent and confusion.” Snort! May I quote you?

  • http://pathfromtheheadtotheheart.wordpress.com Chrystie

    I love this story. I love that it revealed her knowledge that God can be trusted, even when others fail us. What a beautiful lesson born from an untimely sneeze. Great post, Billy!

  • http://heathersunseri.blogspot.com Heather Sunseri

    Love it! What a sweet little girl! And what a wonderful lesson.

  • http://www.kristiejackson.blogspot.com Kristie Jackson

    Is this not the fulfillment of Romans 8:28? Painful as it may have been. It’s an invaluable lesson to trust God more than anyone else, and to contemplate doing that as a child? WOW! Blessings on this darling little girl!

  • http://adifferentstory.net Lyla Lindquist

    If I were the one jumping, I’m not sure if I’d have been screaming louder about not being caught or about being the bullseye in your projectile mucus path. Cracking my head on the floor would have been lost on me in the slime of it all. Either way, great opportunity to show your daughter that God’s the one to always count on. He’s never dropped me, but more importantly, He’s also never spit on me.

  • http://themagoosnews.blogspot.com LOREN

    I am not sure anyone could get a post or a lesson quite like you Billy! This is precious!!

    Thanking the Lord for using a simple sneeze to teach everyone a BIG lesson

  • http://arise2write.blogspot.com andrea

    Awesome post…great analogy.
    Beautiful~~
    Blessings, andrea

  • http://jojoagot.com/ Jojo Agot

    Wow, this almost made me cry. Good thing our God doesn’t sneeze. He is always ready to catch us. Thank you Billy, I can see why FaithWords made a book deal with you.

  • http://tooblessed4myowngood.blogspot.com Candy

    Beautiful story, as usual. Next word: forgiveness. You taught her that well.

    “God never sneezes” would make a great bumper sticker.

  • http://www.lynnrush.com Lynn Rush

    “God never sneezes” — Wow, fantastic way to put it. Nice illustration, Billy. This post made me smile.

  • http://www.janetober.com Janet Oberholtzer

    Great post!
    Laughed at the closet scene – your wife should have had a video camera.

  • http://lorilundquist@blogspot.com Lori Lundquist

    God never sneezes…. that’s a winner. :-)

  • http://www.pridelandsmommy.blogspot.com *~Michelle~*

    Another beautiful lesson taught through our children…..what a blessing!

    Remind me to not pick you as my partner for an egg toss/water balloon contest, though. ;)

  • http://www.herigns.blogspot.com Marni

    What a great analogy…God never sneezes. I love that!

    I drew something else from this story too. I’m very quick to remember the times I’ve been “dropped” but not so much when I’m “caught”. That was my conviction for the day. My toes hurt, but I appreciate you stepping on them.

  • http://blog.breakthroughalaska.com jasonS

    You get scolded for roughhousing too? At least, I’m in good company. :)

    Thanks for another great post, Billy.

  • http://justanotherclaypot.blogspot.com/2009/10/grace-that-empathizes.html Betsy Markman

    Wow, this is powerful on many levels. I’m so glad I was referred to your blog today.

    “From now on, I’ll trust God more than I trust you, okay?” Oh, bittersweet. Yes, you do want that, but oh, how you wanted to catch her!

    Your daughter is very blessed.

  • http://www.sarahsalter.com Sarah Salter

    I’m not much of a jumper. God has to pretty much push me off the bed to get me to jump. And so, I’m really more of a faller than a jumper… I’ve spent so much of my life, crying and begging God to catch me. So, why am I always surprised when He does? Because I keep foolishly judging God by the measuring stick of man. Man doesn’t catch me, so why would God? But I’m wrong. God is so much bigger than that. And he always catches me.

    Thanks, Billy. Good word. Lots to think about.

  • http://joannesher.blogspot.com Joanne Sher

    I tweeted this before I read it – but now I’m reading it and SO glad I did. That title REALLY got me giggling – but what an amazing lesson. The end of this is “Billy powerful,” as usual.

    may have to see if I can come up with something for the carnival too.

  • http://ateachableheart@blogspot.com Shanda

    Love it! Not that you dropped your daughter, but the fact that she “gets” that God is the only one that she can completely trust with her life. Such a powerful lesson for her to learn early on in life.

    I’ve been taking a break so I didn’t officially know that you are being published in 2010!!! Congratulations my well-deserving friend! Like the updated look of your site as well. Blessings to you!

  • http://www.twittlink.com/aj_headline_tb/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5iaWxseWNvZmZleS5jb20vMjAwOS8xMC9qdW1wLw== TwittLink – Your headlines on Twitter

    [...] Tweets about this great post on TwittLink.com [...]

  • http://karlenejacobsen.blogspot.com Karlene Jacobsen

    I love your girl’s perspective. “God would’ve caught me.” then “From now on I’m going to trust God more than you, ok?”

    This is proof of good parenting. As she grows, and knows she can lean into God who doesn’t sneeze or fall asleep.

    Oh to have faith like this child.

    Blessings…
    Karlene

  • http://godsheart-heart2heart.blogspot.com Kat

    Billy,

    Just reading this story has me reliving one very similar to this with the same lesson learned. Great lesson at the end and how we too should remember this child like faith.

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

  • http://writingwithoutpaper.blogspot.com Maureen

    That a child can trust in the invisible despite assuring words or arms opened out — and to know the difference. . . that’s a mark of faith that cannot be taught.

  • http://joyce-fromthissideofthepond.blogspot.com Joyce

    I loved this story today. You always write about your daughter with a real sweetness…how lucky she is, not that you dropped her of course, but that she is loved so much by her dad. You’ve taught her God is trustworthy…that is huge.

    I tried my hand at the blog word carnival today. It was fun and I’m enjoying hopping around to the trust stories.

  • http://www.faithbarista.com Bonnie Gray | FaithBarista

    “The moment she bounded from the bed and into the air was the very moment my head swung forward and sneezed, expelling both air and whatever else outward from my mouth in speeds up to 100 mph. …”

    Was it bad of me to cackle like a madwoman reading this terrible tumble, exploding with sneeze “spray”?!?

    This was delicious from start to finish, with a sweet after taste.

    What a smart, young lady you’ve got there, Billy! She’s gonna do good.

  • http://thereluctanthomefront.blogspot.com Rebecca

    “God would have caught me.”

    Bless her! That is an absolutely precious response. You’re obviously doing a good job in the raising that she thought of that instead of focusing on her hurt toward you.

    Oh, and gesundheit, Billy.

  • Caroline

    For what she says about God immediately as you sit there on the bed, you most definitely are raising your daughter in a profound way. That is what matters.

  • http://www.katieganshert.blogspot.com Katie Ganshert

    Oh my goodness, I love this. God never sneezes, is right. And what a valuable lesson for your daughter. So simple and so true!

  • http://middlezonemusings.com/ Robert Hruzek

    Billy, sometimes I’d love to be envious of your story-telling ability. But then, just as those first twinges begin to tiptoe across my consciousness like a bulldozer wearing jackboots, your story touches my soul.

    Now? Hey, I’m just glad to know ya, Bubba!

    A tip o’ the hat to ya – and a God who never, ever sneezes…

  • http://jenniferdorhauer.blogspot.com Jennifer D

    Like you, I want my children to trust me. But I needed this reminder that I need to teach them to trust God more because this mommy isn’t perfect either. I haven’t sneezed on mine yet. :-) But I have failed to catch them before they fell off the bed or tumbled down the back steps.

  • http://susan-moment.blogspot.com/ Susan

    Gesundheit! {and He did}

  • http://www.justsaytheword.wordpress.com nAncY

    my mom once taught me to never believe a guy that says ” trust me” ;-)

  • http://theextraordinaryordinary.blogspot.com Heather of the EO

    What a wise girl you have.

    I sneeze all the time. God does not.

    I hope my kids learn that lesson early. Great post! (again…maybe I say that too much and it loses it’s meaning…but I mean it!)

  • http://lauraboggess.blogspot.com laura

    Billy,

    I’m just getting back here and I’m so excited for you! First, I must say…you clean up real nice:)

    I’m so proud of you for your upcoming release of Snow Days! Just think, I can say I blogged him when…

    You live a beautiful story, Billy. Can’t wait to read more of it.

  • http://www.redletterbelievers.com David

    I love the idea of just going for it. The Jump is really all about faith and trust.

  • http://theoppositepc.blogspot.com Frank

    A similar story is told in the Helen Hunt movie “Then She Found Me” with the same analogy to God. I thought that’s where you were going, until you sneezed. In the movie though, the parent intentionally doesn’t catch the child to teach her a lesson that “life is hard”. Thankfully, I don’t believe God treats us that way.

    Glad the dirty socks caught you.

    Congrats on the book, BTW! There’s trust, right there.

  • christy rose

    What a wonderful lesson learned at such a young age!
    I am so glad that God never has to sneeze!! :)

  • http://bzzbyannies.blogspot.com Annie K

    I feel like I’ve failed to ‘catch’ my kids on many occassions and not because I sneezed. Mostly because I stink at being a person sometimes. But I’m glad kids are forgiving and can see through our flaws and still know we’re doing our best.

  • http://www.beyondjustmom.com Pam at beyondjustmom

    She must have a great dad, to learn to both trust and forgive. And where to put her priorities in order. Thanks!

  • http://www.rachelheldevans.com Rachel H. Evans

    What a story!

  • http://wendy-ericgunderson.blogspot.com wendy

    Good story ———thanks goodness there IS a CONSTANT out there. (cause I sneeze alot ,,,,,and fall alot,,,,,,,

  • http://shortybearsplace.blogspot.com/ Denise

    Great post.