Friday, March 27, 2009

The Trampoline Principle

A few years back when my dad was going in for a surgery my brother asked me how I was still able to be so happy with all that had transpired in my life. (My husband had just gone through a difficult season with his health.) I heard myself explaining that our life had been like jumping on a trampoline. Our lows had been very low, but our highs were pretty far up there as well. If you have ever jumped on a trampoline you know what I am talking about. When you first jump you don't go down or up very far. The more you jump and invest energy into jumping the lower and higher you get. When a friend is jumping alongside of you, you can actually jump in such a way that causes the other person to soar! It can be a blast where you can do stunts and fun things you could not do on your own or when you are on the ground.

God is faithful not to leave us in the valleys of life. He is also faithful to not allow us to solely live on the mountain tops. It is the balance of both that makes life vivid and full. Along the path between the valleys and mountains, He often blesses us with true friends. Those who laugh with us when we are happy, cry with us when we are sad. Encourage and lift us up when we are down and redirect us if we are wandering down destructive paths. Today I am blessed and thankful for those true friends in life who have jumped beside me on the trampoline of life and helped me to soar. I am purposing anew to be a true friend to others; to look for ways to help them to reach new heights.

If you don't yet have those kinds of friendships in life, pray that God will bring people into your path that you can jump alongside on this trampoline of life. It takes vulnerability, time and energy, but the view is great!

Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." Proverbs 18:24b "but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother."

Many Blessings!

79 comments:

Gretchen said...

Funny...I was just praying for one recently, and He answered. Boldly and clearly (my favorite way). :)

Great analogy with the trampoline.

Shelley said...

I have been praying for a friend like that here in my new place.

011 said...

Amen! i'm lucky to have several people in my life who rejoice with me in the high times, and lift me up when i'm stuck in a valley. great post! have a wonderful weekend!!!

Pam D said...

I am so blessed to have a relatively new friend in my life who has become my prayer partner. She has certainly lifted me up and in many ways given me wings that I didn't know I had. God is SO good! I love the trampoline analogy... I never thought of it that way before. To reach the mountaintop, you have to make it through those deep valleys...

Kathryn said...

What a wonderful analogy, Shanda!

I do pray for Godly friends ... for myself, for my husband, and for my daughter. And, through years, through the ups and downs of life, I've found that my best friend is always the Lord Himself!

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:28:31)

Now, I will always view that Scripture with fresh insight, imagining the Lord giving me a big ol' invisible--but palpable--bounce, so that I can soar higher through His power! :-)

seesawfaith said...

I love this for several reasons:

I love my friends and am only starting to truly appreciate God-given relationships in Christ. I mean, really, really, deep in the spirit get.

I love that you are so eloquent with your words and that you paint such vivid pictures of life with God.

I love that you used my character verse: Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."

:)

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

SO glad I stopped in to read this today. That has been my prayer for awhile now--that He will bring a really special friend into my life. :) Thanks for sharing those words today!

Sheryl said...

I loved that post.

Jennifer said...

Sometimes I think life is either a mountain-top or a valley..but God has reminded me that the majority of life is somewhere in between - and that is okay and even good. Just because I'm not at a peak...doesn't mean I'm in the valley. I really enjoyed your trampoline image, too! Thanks for sharing - and thanking Him for good friends, as well.

joanofalltrades said...

What a wonderful analogy! Your blog takes us all to new heights with every read. Thank you!

Lola Skw said...

This is so beautiful and encourages me a lot! Thank you very much.
May God bless your socks off today!
Hugs, Lola

Daveda said...

Good friends are a gift from God! Great post friend!

Anonymous said...

A wonderful analogy. Perfect for me b/c my kids spend so much time on the trampoline. The lowest lows are often prerequisites for the highest highs.

Thank God for trampoline friends.

Donnetta said...

Lovely analogy!

Happy SITS day!

Tanielle said...

Gorgeous post! Thanks for sharing!

StacieinAtlanta said...

Hi Shanda,

Great post and great blog!

Happy SITS Day!!

http://www.thedivinemissmommy.com
http://www.twitter.com/stacieinatlanta

Becky said...

Great analogy :)

Heather said...

Beautiful post and so true. God sometimes answers prayers in ways you never expected but he always answers.

Happy SITs Day!!!

Creative Junkie said...

That has got to be one of the best analogies I've read ... great post!

Sandy said...

What a beautiful post with the perfect analogy:0)

Unknown said...

Happy SITS day! Great analogy, and I'm blessed with many friends who bounce right along with me, through the highs and lows.
Have a wonderful day!

ch said...

What a beautiful post.
I was discussing, with my husband, this morning the incredible balance of nature. Your point about good friend completes the picture. It's the support of others that hold it all together.

Tiffany said...

Wonderful description of true friendship. Congrats on being Saucy today.

jubilee said...

This is a great reminder. We've recently moved and I am praying for a trampoline friend!

Happy SITS day!

Debbie said...

What a great analogy! I love it.

Connie said...

Oh....this is so lovely!

Happy SITS day!

Cammie said...

very good insight!!

BloggessJ said...

Great analogy! Have a great SITS day!

Ronnica said...

I do have those type of friendships...and oh, what a blessing!

Anonymous said...

Great post! What a great way to look at friendship!

said...

This post is very similar to what the pastor at our church said yesterday in his sermon.

COngrats on your SITS day, btw!

Stacy Uncorked said...

Love the analogy - it's so very true!

Happy SITS Day! :)

Laura said...

I had a friend like that, but she passed away a few years ago. I still feel lost without her.

Unknown said...

I love this analogy, and will recall it during my next difficult time. Thank you!

Vickie said...

Great post. I like the connection you made with the trampoline.

Mama Nut said...

You are quickly becoming one of my favorite bloggers! I loved loved loved this post. In fact, I'm putting a link to it on my post that you just inspired later on today. Thank you for your insightful words!

Lavender n Lattés said...

great post - thanks for sharing the love...

The Kooky Queen--Rachel said...

Love this!!! What a wonderful analogy!

Rachel Lundy said...

Great illustration. Thanks.

Unknown said...

What a wonderful post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with all of us. Happy SITS day, enjoy the spotlight!

Mimi Head said...

Wonderful! I love the trampoline image of life.

FixItMommy said...

Hmmmmm, I needed this today. I'm in a funk and this is so very true. I am very blessed to have these kind of friends. Thank you for the reminder.

Michelle said...

and yea, what about those 4 guys who lowered their friend through a hole THEY CUT in the roof so he could be healed by Jesus. We need friends.

Unknown said...

Awesome analogy. Very apt!

Kirsty said...

What a brilliant analogy-I love it! Thank you :) Happy SITS day!

Mimi said...

I love this post & I needed it today.

Anonymous said...

Well said and congratulations on being the featured blogger for SITS!

Ali said...

And how great is it that we can find those relationships through blogging too!

mommytoalot said...

Good post and a very positive attitude. Happy SITS day

Just Lisa said...

What a great analogy and a beautiful message!

Happy SITS Day!

Jessica said...

It's very true. We're never totally alone, no matter what's going on.

Jennifer said...

What a great post, very well written. I had to email it to a good friend and tell her thank you for being that friend on the trampoline with me.

angie said...

What a great post!

Natalie said...

i've never thought of life as a trampoline, but it definitely makes a lot of sense. especially at this time in my life when so much is changing for me, including my base of friends. i thought i had those ones that would jump along side me, but i'm quickly finding out that they aren't willing to jump as high as me or something like that. I don't know. i'm still figuring things out, but i liked what you had to say. :-)

haha, that turned into a longer comment than i thought it would be.

tammy said...

Very nice. Without the lows, I don't think we would really ever appreciate the highs.

Jessica said...

Awesome analogy... you are great...we all need friends who will lift us up

Becky said...

I loved reading your blog!

Cookie Brochette said...

A trampoline! I have said the exact same phrase. That's life alright...

Jenny-Jenny said...

So well written. The trampoline principle is right on. I will try to be a better friend especially to those who are a little harder to be that friend to. Thank you.

Denise Grover Swank said...

I have always used a roller coaster analogy. The Trampoline Theory is a good one.

cat said...

Oh yes, nothing better than a good (and Godly) friend to help us along.

Judah said...

love this post!!!
And yes friends are indeed a precious gift from God. God just recently placed one in my life that has been like a sister to me.

L said...

I have trampoline friends, I prayed for them and God was so faithful to answer my prayers in such a huge way - abundantly exceedingly all that I could hope or ask for!

That's the way He does it though, He likes to show up BIG!

Heather said...

Couldn't agree with you more! Wonderful post!

Unknown said...

Thanks for this post, it always seems I get just what I need right when I need it. You were meant to write that post for me. :) Okay maybe for others too but you know what I mean.

www.AForestFrolic.typepad.com said...

Amen SITSta!

Jamie :-)

Michelle said...

I love how you used the visual of the trampoline. It's so true... and yes, those friends really make life worth living!

C.G. the Foodie said...

What a wonderful analogy!

Mrsbear said...

What a beautiful philosophy

Christy said...

love this...well spoken.

Xazmin said...

That was such a beautifl post. I really loved it - thanks.

Xazmin

wenderful said...

I love this! I have never thought about friendship or life in quite this way. I will remember this the next time I jump with my kids.
Happy SITs Day! :)

WildfireBelle said...

Very nice!

Rachael said...

What a wonderful post, and a wonderful analogy! It's so true, without the lows, how would we even know where the highs were?

Amy said...

What an awesome post and something that I really needed to read! Thank you!

Lisa M said...

AMEN! What a beautiful analogy. Thanks for sharing :)

Happy Belated SITS day! God Bless!

Mandy said...

Very well written! Thanks for the inspiration!

Shannon said...

Having the lows only makes me appreciate the highs more.

What a great post!

Shanda said...

Love ya mom good job! 80 comments is a lot! lOTS OF LOVE YOUR ALEXIS