New Years Resolution: Grow

I recently saw the title of this post as a friend's status on facebook. The girl that wrote this is a crazy teenager who happens to be short, and wrote this as a joke and it did make me laugh. Then I began to think about it, I mean, really think about it, and I realized growing is an excellent New Years resolution. Reflecting upon my life I find that in every area I have a need to grow, whether it be in my walk with God, in my relationships with others, mentally, emotionally, and in many other aspects. Growing in these areas is not something anyone should ever stop doing, because when we cease to grow and attain knew knowledge, we cease to have a purpose in life. Eric Butterworth once said, "Don't go through life, grow through life."

I think that the key to growing is to take the unexpected and accept it; the unpleasant, make it pleasant; sadness turn to joy; the exhausting make refreshing; the tears, turn them into laughter; the confusing change into understanding; and the unknown make it known. None of these things are easy, and it sometimes you fail, but failing is another key to growing. When you fail (and you will, we all do) you have to pick yourself up from the dust, brush yourself off, and go on with life. Accept the fact that you are not perfect and realize that the only way you can do better is with God's help alone. Growing includes stretching, bending, hurting -- all things that are not always enjoyable, but when it is over you can look back and see how the pain created something that is more beautiful than you had ever dreamed.

So this year I plan to be open to the growth that God has planned for me. I do not want to buck and fight against Him. I desire to let Him have His way, no matter how hard it is. What is your resolution?

"But GROW in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen."

~II Peter 3:18~