I wanted to say something smart, but didn't think ahead enough. So I was floundering. We walked in silence for a moment, then she teetered on the uneven ground and said "Don't let me fall on my ass."
I said "If you start to fall, I'll catch you. I always have. Until we get to the front. Then I'll hand you over to Matthew and he can take over that job."
It was an impromptu analogy, but perfect. I think we were both surprised.