Growing Pains

     It’s that time of year again. Back to school. And with that comes new school clothes. That’s usually the time when I can really tell how much my kids have grown over the past year, by how short their jeans are, at least the ones that weren't cut off and made into shorts for the summer. Jeans and shoes can get pretty expensive! Thankfully Emily is buying her own clothes now, and Josh has at least leveled off on his height, hopefully, for a while.
     This year, though, it seems like everybody is needing something new. Although Josh doesn’t seem to have gotten any taller, his waste size is smaller. His jeans from last year are way too big, plus he’s worked in them all summer. Jeans, shoes and socks for him. Dylan has hit the age when a lot of boys take a big growing spell. His jeans from last year...well let’s just say we haven’t had quite that much rain; and he has finally put on a little weight in his upper body, so his shirts are looking too small. His shoes still fit, but they are wore slap out. Looks like a little bit of everything for him. And Alan - do I dare go there? (I’ll tread lightly.) Since he quit smoking a few months ago (applause), he has put on a few pounds. While he usually gets all new clothes for Christmas, I believe he may need some before then when the first cold weather hits. As for me, the scales have been kind, nothing gained, but nothing lost either. My clothes, however, tell a different story. While the whole may weigh the same, the pieces have shifted slightly, but not enough that would warrant spending a lot of money to replace perfectly good clothes. (But we’ll see.)
     The Lord showed me something this week about how I could relate all this to our spiritual lives. We all live in the same house, and we basically have the same needs, but all for different reasons. Let me see if I can explain.
     Josh is needing a smaller waste size. In order to lose weight, you have to burn more calories than you take in. In the spiritual world, that could be accomplished one of two ways. One, you give more than you take. Two, you just don’t "eat" enough to begin with. According to my grocery bill, nobody in our family is going hungry, so I attribute Josh’s change to the fact that he is maturing into a fine young man, willing to work at every opportunity and willing to help anybody he can. While his outside may not appear to be as much, the inside is filling in and growing stronger.
     Dylan has started growing just all over (physically and spiritually). I remember when Josh was about his age, the clothes we bought when school started were too small by Christmastime, and he needed all new clothes again. I have a feeling that will be the case with Dylan this year. He was saved at Bible Camp a few weeks ago (again, applause) and now seems more willing to learn, and more able to understand, when valuable lessons can be taught. He is taking a lot in, as he should at this age. He gives what he can, but it will take a little more growing before he is able to give it all back.
     Again treading lightly, I approach the subject of my husband. Weight gain is a sure sign of taking in more than you use. I’m sure with all that’s gone on over the last few years, his soul has been changed. He has taken a lot in, and it’s starting to show. I have faith and know that we will eventually see the results of that inward transformation.
     Now we come to the dreaded personal observations. I am sad to say that my attempts to lose weight and exercise have not accomplished what I had hoped. However there have been some results. I may not have dropped any sizes, but the size I wear now fits differently. I guess that would mean I have given out as much as I’ve taken in, equally. And I feel like I’ve taken in a lot! I have heard the Word preached in ways I’ve never heard, seen the Spirit move in ways I’ve never seen, and felt things I’ve never felt. I have more of a desire to not only listen to inspirational teachings, but to share them. When I have a revelation that helps me, I feel like I should pass it on to the next person so maybe it can help them too. But, while all that is fine in itself, at some point I would like to be able to share some of my own personal experiences more, and hopefully start the inspiration chain.
     Over the past 22 years, my husband and I have changed quite a bit.  We have both put on a few pounds, and we are seeing more gray hairs every day. We are the parents now of three individuals. We have marveled at their growth and accomplishments. We have nursed them through scrapes, sprains, broken bones and broken hearts. Life is constantly changing, and we are always evolving. My prayer is that we lean on God, listen to what He has to say, go where He leads, and learn through our growing pains.