Nicholas got his haircut with Linda at Fort Worth salon recently. She has been cutting his hair since he was a baby. He received his first hair cut when he was just 18 months old. Today, as he started for the shampoo bowl, I noticed growth in more than his hair. He is now as tall as Linda! Wow. The baby I waited five years for is starting to become a young man.
Growth is good, it shows health. We know something is wrong if our children are not growing according to a standard growth chart the doctor reviews with us at their annual visits. There have been a couple of times over the years when both kiddos mentioned feeling pain in their hips, legs and back. We were told these are growing pains. It is good for you, even though it hurts.
Emotional growth is good too. We humans seem to grow the most through painful experiences. Searing, emotional pain that cuts deep definitely gets your attention. I beg God for healing and peace only He can give. Even when you have friends and family showing you love and support, which I am incredibly grateful for, it is only God that truly feels and understands the depth of the pain. I quickly become aware that I am completely dependent on Him. I am completely unable to carry it. He is my Refuge, my Shelter. If I don’t give it over to Him, I can get mad, sad or fall into a depression. I am thankful He is always there with open arms, ready to take us back, ready to help us and train us in a new way, especially when I keep trying to pick up the situation and fix it myself. Sometimes there is no fixing. It is just being still. Crying. Praising. Waiting.
I pray that as my children grow, they can learn lessons by trusting Him and His Word. The Bible is not just a set of rules, it is an instruction manual on how to navigate life in a way that honors God and is best for you. It does not mean pain won’t come, but it does help alleviate some unnecessary trials if we trust what He says and learn from others He surrounds us with. My you always grow, learn and trust in God my son. Trust and obey is truly best way.
