“Oh, oh! That’s not good,” I thought as I came to the end of the row as I mowed the lawn.
As I turned my mower to go back the other way I watched as the front left wheel rolled out into the street and I was left with three wheels.
I tried to fix it but to no avail. Being the trooper that I am I completed the job on three wheels but the lawn was full of little swirls from each time I turned and allowed the left front end to dip lower than it should in the lawn.
When it comes to mechanical things I realize I must have missed school that day, or week, or year. I have zero mechanical aptitude and feel completely inadequate when it comes to fixing things or even having conversations about fixing things. You could sell me flux capacitors all day long!
I remember the first year we were married my wife got me a brand new toolbox for Christmas. It’s important to understand that when it comes to gifts of any kind my wife and I have very different expectations. Her idea is to give something practical and needed. It has nothing to do with anything that someone might want. My idea is to give and get special things that someone might not buy for themselves because it’s impractical or more a luxury than a need. Neither is right or wrong, just a different way of looking at gifts.
I’m sure there had to be a strange look on my face as I opened the toolbox. I remember thinking, “Is this some kind of joke? Why in the world would she get me a toolbox? I don’t have any need or want for this thing?” As I looked at her I realized this was no joke. She beamed with pride at this very practical, needed and useful gift she had given me.
All that being said, I have grown some over the years and can occasionally repair something to some degree of success. Youtube has become the best tool in my toolbox when I do need to fix something.
I knew when the wheel rolled off that I didn’t have to worry about it for a few days. I prayed for very dry and warm weather so the grass wouldn’t grow and I would get a long reprieve. Instead, we got rain, rain and more rain and much sooner than I wanted I needed to deal with the dreaded missing wheel.
Youtube here we come. I watched a couple of videos and thought I had it figured out. I went to Fleet Farm and got what I thought I needed. Failure. Feelings of inadequacy poured through me as I went about five feet and the wheel came off again.
Back into the house I tromped to watch some more videos. I didn’t see anything different and decided it was time to get a professional opinion. I wrestled the mower into the trunk and got in the car. As I was just about to put the key in I thought, “This can’t be this big a deal. It’s a wheel on a mower! I’m the courage guy. Don’t I even have enough courage to fix the stupid wheel on a mower?”
I got out of the car and wrestled the mower back out. I compared the right front wheel to the left front wheel. I CAN DO THIS! I got back in the car and went to Fleet Farm again. This time, SUCCESS!
Now, if I told you how simple this fix was I’m sure many of you would laugh and howl at my lack of mechanical expertise.
You can laugh and howl all you want but I fixed that sucker and you can’t take that away from me!
What are the seemingly simple tasks that others can do that create feelings of inadequacy or stupidity for you? How much courage will it take to stay in the battle the next time and come out a winner?
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James 1:12
Have a STRONG and COURAGEOUS day!
I could not figure out how to adjust the brakes on my granddaughter’s bike. Did the same thing. Watched YouTube but the bike the guy was fixing on YouTube was not the same as my granddaughters. So I bought her a new bike. Problem solved.
That’s a great idea, Ron. I just can’t afford to buy a new mower right now but sometimes that truly is the easiest solution!