Every little child loves to see that they've grown. Despite how annoyed they seem when adults announce how much they've grown, there's an inner pride... as if they've done something to gain those few extra inches that suddenly mean the whole world to them. I remember bounding into the living room to shout the joyous news that I was a whole inch taller than I was last month. I remember holding the hymnal in church and looking down on my brother's head. Oh the joys! (Though those days are long over now...)
It's been years since I've stopped growing. I've been 5'4" since 8th grade... but I still have the same excitement about growth. I still want to know that I'm growing, changing, maturing into a better person. That my joy is growing. That my mind is stretching. That my love is growing. In fact, growth is one of the biggest motivators for me. I love to see people change and grow: physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. It's a huge part of why I love teaching... growth is just so rewarding.
But growth is a process. I think back to those days as a small child. When I was in the middle of a growth spurt, I never really realized how much I was growing and changing. Day to day it all seemed mundane. I looked the same. But one day... I looked at some old pictures and realized how much taller I had gotten. How much older I now looked. Similarly, I have discovered that when I'm in the middle of a season of life, I don't realize how I'm growing. I want to grow. So I strive. And when I don't see immediate results, I assume I'm doing something wrong. I assume I'm stuck in a rut. We smile when adorable kids "try" to grow. They swallow their veggies, then scrunch up their faces to give them that coveted half inch when it's time to get measured. They stretch, they tiptoe, they strive. They may be doing all the right things, but it doesn't make them magically grow overnight. Growing is a process. They have grown. And so have I.
Some days though, growth is painful. Toes pinch. Joints ache. Stomachs grumble for more food... even after the 3rd helping. I always acknowledged the pain... maybe whined about it a little... but rarely saw it as a sign of growth. But this kind of growth has pretty much defined this year for me... Lots of struggles, battles, frustration, pain. I thought they were random. But now I know. I have grown. In the midst of all the chaos I am a little tougher, stronger, taller.... wiser.
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