Inspired by a little girl learning to ride her bike in Hilton Head, SC. June 1997.

Running At Her Side

she's never been without her training wheels
and the fear that's in her heart she cannot hide
her laughter is uneasy, hey she's just a little girl,
but she trusts the one who's running at her side

she's learning now that balance is a skill
and she's learning that it's dangerous if you lean
she's learning now the challenges of getting through the turns
and what it takes to master this machine

it is teeter, totter, tilt and tumble,
getting stronger stride by stride,
frightened by the road below
but certain that she'll somehow learn to ride
if she'll trust the one who's running at her side

the front wheel wobbles awkward and unsure
she's a little bit uneasy every start
she's learning that the curbside can be quite a friend sometimes
she's learning now that stopping is an art

her daddy tells her "pedal", but her feet are frozen still
and she tells him more than one time "don't let go"
more than once he'll hold her close to brush away her tears
knowing this is just the way she'll grow

it is teeter, totter, tilt and tumble,
getting stronger stride by stride,
frightened by the road below
but certain that she'll somehow learn to ride
if she'll trust the one who's running at her side

her little fear of falling get swallowed up by faith
in the one she knows is running at her side

(flute - Phil Thompson; bass  - Tom Hildreth)

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