Growing...



When I was a little kid (like really little still in a crib) I had a braces for my feet.  Apparently I walked with penguin feet (they were pointed out). I don’t even remember, someone just told me.  I am quite sure I hated wearing those dumb braces, I mean I HATE wearing shoes in general.  And I am sure my dad didn't like doing it.  We all know how I can be...

About a year and a half ago, I had some hard work ahead of me, I needed some correction.  And some poor REALLY brave soul told me so.  And I wasn’t really happy but it was really really true.  And I buckled down and did some hard work on myself, uncovered some super destructive behavior, some walls I had built up, and I had to put aside my selfish ways to become more of who God created me to be (and let me tell you, God is NOT done with me yet!!).

Do you ever wonder (my friends and I were talking about this) why we don’t say hard things to people in order to help them to grow?  I mean, don’t we want our friends to be the best they can be?  I know I want to be the best I can be, I won’t be perfect ever, but I always want to be better than I was the day before, and sometimes that means my friends need to say some really hard things to me. One of my friends a while ago said “we are always on your side… but….” And they were right. I knew it, and I needed truth in my life.  


I don’t want someone to scream at me or shake their finger at me, but I do want them to say in love “please do this” or “stop that”.  I remember when I asked people to say to me “foot” if I was sitting on my foot because it’s not good for me.  I didn’t want anyone to yell at me, just a gentle reminder… Don’t make me sorry I told you I needed help.  No one wants their weaknesses thrown in their faces.  Sometimes we don't even realize we are doing something destructive to ourselves because it's just become a habit.

I’ve really been challenged in my own growth (I’ve got a really hard lesson ahead of me) and in loving others to help them to grow too and encourage people who are doing great and making efforts to be their best them!  It means I need to listen more, pray more, I need to pay attention, and love more.  And sometimes say things that are uncomfortable for both of us for a minute, and sometimes be a cheerleader (just call me PomPina).  And if you feel lead to help me grow, pray about it, and help me too!  We can grow together.  Let’s all just make sure we’ve earned the right be heard in each other’s lives.  Only love can do that.

1 John 2:15-17 15-17 Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

Comments