Growing Up

James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

As a parent to many, many, many daughters, I know my main objective. To raise these girls up to be Godly women. I want them to contribute to society in a way that is loving, giving, selfless, and helpful. I want them to flourish and take advantage of all life has to offer. In order to accomplish all these things in all of them, I have to start at birth. Loving them, tending to their needs, showing them that they are important, special, different, and adored for all that they are. I have to treat them how I hope they will treat people. With honesty and respect. I am giving them the tools they will need to go out into the world and thrive.

As a kid, life seems to be a constant roller coaster. You are best friends with the neighbor until they won't share their favorite Barbie. Then you hate her and she isn't your friend anymore.... Until tomorrow when you forget all about it and go running and skipping with her as if nothing ever happened. You learn to forgive and move on. You learn that although they hurt you, it isn't worth losing them over. You have a baby sister (again!) and think... oh crap. Now I will NEVER get my own room. You might even resent her being born and taking up precious space in the already crammed minivan. But then one day you walk in the room and she looks at you and smiles so huge as if you are the best thing she has ever seen. OK, maybe this smelly baby isn't so bad after all. You learn to sacrifice. To make room in your world for another person. You learn that it isn't so bad either, to give up something you thought you needed so that another might be blessed. How about that super awesome girl at school that everyone was always hanging around? She was so pretty with the coolest (and expensive) gadgets. Everyone who was friends with her was almost as cool as she was. But, she was nasty to the chubby kid who nobody ever sat with. She called him fat and demeaned him to the point that he felt like he was nothing. You made the hard choice to sit at HIS table at lunch, knowing what it could do to your reputation. You learned love and kindness. You learned that things and looks don't make a person who they are. (Lipstick on a pig is still a pig, right??)

We are all learning as Christians. I know in the past couple years alone, I have learned more about grace, mercy, love, faith, and understanding than I ever have before. God has been raising me. Giving me the tools and experiences needed to mold me into the woman he desires for me to be. He is refining my grace by giving me opportunities to forgive even the hardest situations. He is refining my patience by giving me the chance to keep my cool when all the kids decide to poop themselves and fight all at the same time. He is refining my mercy by allowing me the chance to serve that mean lady down the road who has nothing nice to say about anything or anyone. He is refining my faith by putting me in situations where there seems like no hope and no end in sight. He is refining my love by giving me really, really, really, unlovable people in my life. I am changing. I feel it every day. I am seeing things I never would've noticed before. I am hearing things I would've ignored. And I am feeling for others and for Him like I never even wanted to in the past. I am becoming the woman he is intended me to be and I am so blessed. God has put me in a place with some of the most amazing people I have ever known so that we can all grow together. Helping each other and holding each other accountable. Keeping each other steady and on the narrow path. My life is forever changed and I can't wait to see what I look like in another 2 years from now.