Growth

 What an interesting word and concept.  Just what does it really mean?  I think this definition is great:  Development from a simple to a more complex stage.  When we grow physically, it is in my opinion, a much easier process than when we grow as a person. Particularly in areas where more work and discipline are required.  I recall having a significant growth spurt when I was fifteen years of age.  I am 6’5″ tall today.  From the middle of my ninth grade year, up until the beginning of my sophomore year in high school, I grew three inches.  I was growing by leaps and bounds.  I was excited about growing into a bigger young man.  I wanted what the new growth would provide for me.  But, what I did not want was the pain that came with it.  The pain in my left knee was so great that it kept me from being the kind of athlete I wanted to be.  Everybody thought I was faking the pain because I was afraid of the competition.  Well, I was afraid a little, but I would have given it my best shot.  Does this not parallel us growing as a person?  We want to grow and be recognized as a person of character and integrity. But, a lot of the time, we don’t want the pain that comes along with it such as: discipline and structure.  There’s nothing that we can really do about our physical body growing up.  We just have to deal with the pain.  The same is not true about growing as a person.  We can avoid the pain, and fumble around all our life and choose not to grow as a person.  But, what we need to do is face the pain, reap the rewards, and be a help to others.

Rhon Johnson

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 Scripture Reference:

 2 Corinthians 4:16

 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.