A year ago I realized the importance of growth, the comfort of growth, the necessity of growing.
It’s been almost a year since I changed jobs. It’s been almost a year since we enrolled Chet in school. It’s been almost a year since our family learned to adapted to so many new changes. During that time I found myself me ntally coaching myself through most life moments.
Grow into it.
Very little has changed since last May, yet everything is different. I find comfort in the challenges of my job. I cherish the time Chet spends thriving in his school. Our family has gained so much since last year.
Grow into it.
Yet we are still growing. I find myself adjusting to a child maturing into middle school. He’s growing and stretching. Finding comfort in this middle stage of development is a challenge. He’s loving and caring one moment. He’s withdrawn and abrasive the next moment. I want to whisper in his ear grow into it, but I know it’s me that needs to grow. I need to grow as his mother to support him.
Grow into it.
Teenage years and toddler years are a lot to manage. At the end of most days, it my connection to Christian that becomes neglected. Many discusses have ended with the conclusion that this is a phase in our relationship that we have to trust, that we have to embrace and that we have to grow through. The moments in life when our children need us most don’t last forever, so we are trusting the growth. We are focusing on small moments for just us. We are growing.
Grow into it.
A year ago I asked my husband and my children to trust me, to trust that the change I was making would make me a better wife and mother. They held my hand and cheered me on. Now it’s my turn. Nicole at My Fit Family wrote of her marriage, and it has inspired me ever since.
“Marriage is about falling into pace with each other. When one person chooses to grow, the other person cannot be left behind. Feelings of jealousy have no place in our hearts towards each other.
Sometimes, people grow. And because we are individuals, we can’t force one person to be ready to grow with the other at the same time. But here is what I’ve learned–from my own marriage of 10 years, seeing my own parents marriage of 39 years, my grandparents marriage of 64 years: When your partner grows, you must pace along with them. Be an encourager and supportive–not bitter or resentful.
Because your turn will come. And your partner may be the one that is holding back–and you will need his support. It’s almost as if the person who is growing has no choice but to grow and the other person must be the supporter and encourager. Being left behind will cause too big of a separation. A great divide–and if you aren’t careful, it may never be filled–it may be too difficult to build the bridge to connect the two of you.”
It’s now my turn to watch my husband flourish, to pace beside him, and to let him grow. This year belongs to him.
Grow into it.
It has been a year since I used these three simple words to motivate myself. It has been a years since I relied on these three simple words to anchor me in my own growth. A year later I know this: growing isn’t something to be feared. It isn’t something to resist. It is something to be embraced, celebrated and encouraged. Growth is the direction I am headed.
Change is inevitable. Growth is intentional.” ~Glenda Cloud
Kristy Maute 