Lessons Aren’t Always Obvious

So, I didn’t get to complete the full 100 mile ride today. Since this is about teaching my son lessons, I thought I’d pass this one on:

Lessons aren’t always obvious, kid. You start out the day with the intention of riding a long long way to prove that anything is possible. Then you are joined by some amazing friends and family who take time out of their busy and hectic schedule to share your journey. Some ride with you. Some get up early and wait around for hours in the hot sun to cheer you on as you finish.

Sometimes a very special friend chooses to take on the enormous challenge of riding farther than he has ever ridden in his life because he likes your company and wants to share this challenge with you. And sometimes that special friend pushes his body too far and gets hurt 66 miles from home.

Now, that friend will probably tell you to keep going and leave him on the side of the road to wait for help. You could do that. But that is not today’s lesson. Today’s lesson is you never leave a friend behind. As badly as you wish to finish the ride…as important as it seemed just hours earlier… there are some things that are just more important.

So you find a shady place to sit with your friend and you make him laugh. You change the subject from the pain he is in and you wait with him for help. And you thank him from the bottom of your heart for sharing the day with you.