Still Growing?

May 04, 2017

Still Growing?

A little pink pot on the window sill in the kitchen holds an amazing flower. This flower has been blooming all through the winter and looks as good as it did when we received it back in February. Well, I have to confess, it isn’t real, although sometimes it almost seems real.

Before moving from California, friends gave us a solar daisy in a pink plastic flower pot to help cheer us up on gloomy days. And it worked! All winter long, the daisy bobbed up and down, looking just like it was growing, proving that there were a few rays of the sun out there somewhere and providing chuckles too.

Of course, there are many signs of real growth all around us now that the weather has warmed up. Nature is taking full advantage of the short growing season here. Al and I are enjoying seeing the tulip tree in the front of the house adorned with large pale pink flowers and the forsythia lining the fence of the cemetery next door covered with lush yellow blossoms. We’ve already planted several containers of gerbera daisies, columbine, snapdragons and pansies in the backyard. It’s so nice to see things blooming again!

Then there are our grandchildren. When they came to visit us in California four years ago, we took pictures, first with Kendra (15) and Kevin (12) standing side by side holding Nate (4) in their outstretched arms and then holding Elliot (2).

Those same two pictures have been taken annually since then. It has been fun comparing the four sets of photos. The legs of the younger boys are now draping over the arms of their older siblings. However, the biggest change has been in Kevin who has grown about six inches in the last four years.

How about us? Are we still growing? Well, the mirror proves that we are getting older and our bodies also confirm it as joints tend to get creaky and muscles weaken with age.

Mentally? Hmm, that’s debatable; however there are a number of ways in which we can challenge and stimulate our minds and improve our memory if we choose to do so, no matter how old we are. Learning doesn’t have to stop once we are out of school; but we do have to be intentional about it.

Are we growing spiritually? Spiritual growth also has to be intentional on our part. The pastor of the church Al and I have been attending is teaching a series called, “I’m still growing!” He’s retiring from thirty-four years of ministry in June. Imagine ending on that note! Not weak and feeble, or burned out and discouraged, but strong, hopeful and still growing!

Dear Father, Please help us all to open our hearts to you. May we seek every available opportunity to grow in our knowledge of and relationship with you. Help us to continue to grow and change through the power of your Holy Spirit until we become more like Christ. In His name, Amen.

“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men.” Luke 2:52 NIV

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2Timothy 2:15 NIV

2013 at our house

Kevin(12) Kendra (15) holding Elliot (2)