Thursday, August 2, 2007

pool

It’s hot. Really hot. We’ve been spending every afternoon this week at our neighborhood swimming pool, just a couple of blocks from our house. We put baby b. down for an early nap, eat lunch, and as soon as he’s awake, walk over and enjoy the rest of the afternoon swimming with our neighbors. Standing in the shallow end today watching the noisy boys, I cannot believe how much they’ve grown. Last year they were straining to hold their heads above water, standing on tippy toes and looking up just to breathe. They’re at least a head taller this year and walk around the shallow end with no problem, climbing out and jumping in to swim. And swim and swim and swim. Amazing.

I can’t believe how much they’ve grown in just a year. It snuck up on me.

Spiritual growth is the same way. It sneaks up on me. Sometimes my spiritual life feels stagnant, and then I find myself back in the pool. I find a point of reference and realize that a year ago, or two years ago, I was fighting just to keep my head above water—to breathe. And then I realize I’ve grown, and the situations that pulled me under before, gasping for breath, are easier to maneuver now.

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1)

8 comments:

L.L. Barkat said...

What a beautiful reflection here. And it is like that, isn't it? Sometimes growth just takes us by surprise. And we can swim where we couldn't before.

Halfmom, AKA, Susan said...

That's a great post! It's good to know that the promise of Phil1:6 is true, even when we can't see it happening sometimes. Makes me wonder about "layers" though - do you sometimes find youself having something hit you quite by surprise - something you thought you'd "conquered" long ago only to find it snuck right past?

Thank you for your comment on my blog - it was perfect and will be very useful in addressing some of the points I want to make.

Llama Momma said...

LL -- I also thought about your situation with your friend and grief, and how God has prepared you for this season in ways you didn't notice before. But now it's here and God is giving you the strength and grace to walk through it.

Halfmom -- Absolutely. I am learning to walk humbly. It really is all about Jesus.

spaghettipie said...

I love that visual, and it's so encouraging to think that sometimes even when I'm not sure if I'm growing, I will look back at some point and see that I was...

lorenzothellama said...

Do you have any photos of your llama? Being one myself, I am interested to see whether your's is a relation or not.
All the best,
Lorenzo T.

spaghettipie said...

okay, this is off the subject...
but every time I come to your blog, in my head I sing:
"Llama momma, you're the one,
You make blog time lots of fun..."
(you know what tune, too, don't you?)

*sigh* I've turned into my mother. A song for everything...

Llama Momma said...

SP -- You crack me up! You're in good company. I have songs for everything too!!

Lorenzo -- thanks for stopping by! I'm afraid I don't have a photo of my llama. But his name is Charlie.

Marmot Mom said...

Yup!!! I got the big spritual thing down pat, thank you very much. I can share the plan of salvation with you, but you better not ask me for a clean dish!! Mary Engelbreit loves to say "Life is just so DAILY." The book of Phillipians says it better: "...work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His Good pleasure!"
Hang in there Llama Girl :)