
Life is great, even when it appears otherwise. We all have moments, sometimes seemingly endless ages of a particular problem that constantly raises its, his or hers, head and mocks us as we fail again to solve the problem. I recall my step grandmother, who loved me dearly, when it had been a while since seeing her, exuberantly proclaiming, “Larry, you look like you have grown a foot!” I would look down and sure enough I still had only two.
The opposite of physical growth, is in the inner realm. Paul talked about that in several of the epistles. We all know people who, over the course of life, fail to make any headway in the realm of personal growth. The truth is that long after we have finished the cycle of physical growth, we can and should be growing in the capacity to learn, to love and to enjoy.
Growing inwardly is in the long term more important than the physical. As we grow inwardly we learn that yes, I do have insurmountable problems that I cannot overcome. However, while this is true, I can and will outgrow them. Edmund Hillary used this principle to get up and try again after failure until at last he conquered Mt. Everest. Hillary knew the mountain was not growing, but he was and could continue to learn, to develop new techniques and ultimately stand atop the summit of Everest.
Hemingway commented on the importance of understanding the value of growing inwardly with this gem:
“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” Ernest Hemingway
Years ago it was common to hear Christians singing, “Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before, every day with Jesus I love Him more and more. Jesus saves and keeps me, He’s the one I’m living for, every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.”
The principle is growth. The Apostle Peter insisted, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,” 1Peter 2:2.
Babies learn to let us know they have a need and soon learn to attempt to get their way by crying. The crying morphs into whining as they grow. Sadly, far too many get locked into that stage of growth and rather than growing their way through difficulties, they sound like a turbine engine, whining to the point of a scream. Growing gets more results for adults than does whining.
Winning grace for living is found here: “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” 2Peter 3:18.
Copyright © 2015 Larry Lilly
For Great IT work click Oral Deckard
The opposite of physical growth, is in the inner realm. Paul talked about that in several of the epistles. We all know people who, over the course of life, fail to make any headway in the realm of personal growth. The truth is that long after we have finished the cycle of physical growth, we can and should be growing in the capacity to learn, to love and to enjoy.
Growing inwardly is in the long term more important than the physical. As we grow inwardly we learn that yes, I do have insurmountable problems that I cannot overcome. However, while this is true, I can and will outgrow them. Edmund Hillary used this principle to get up and try again after failure until at last he conquered Mt. Everest. Hillary knew the mountain was not growing, but he was and could continue to learn, to develop new techniques and ultimately stand atop the summit of Everest.
Hemingway commented on the importance of understanding the value of growing inwardly with this gem:
“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” Ernest Hemingway
Years ago it was common to hear Christians singing, “Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before, every day with Jesus I love Him more and more. Jesus saves and keeps me, He’s the one I’m living for, every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.”
The principle is growth. The Apostle Peter insisted, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,” 1Peter 2:2.
Babies learn to let us know they have a need and soon learn to attempt to get their way by crying. The crying morphs into whining as they grow. Sadly, far too many get locked into that stage of growth and rather than growing their way through difficulties, they sound like a turbine engine, whining to the point of a scream. Growing gets more results for adults than does whining.
Winning grace for living is found here: “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” 2Peter 3:18.
Copyright © 2015 Larry Lilly
For Great IT work click Oral Deckard