GROW
UP! ACT LIKE A 6-YR. OLD!
By
Patti Iverson
A frustrated daddy actually said this as a
frustrated kid replied, “I YAM six!”
Growing is hard on youth. Mark Twain said, “When I was 14 my dad was so
ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. When I reached 21 I
was astonished at how much he’d learned in 7 years.”
Growth is hard on a city. “Is Urban Sprawl an accident? Nope! We did it on
purpose.” Pogo said, “We have met the enemy and he is us.” Oh joy.
An environmentalist’s t-shirt: “Population
growth guarantees environmental
decline. Stop Immigration!” But the
vegetarian PETA gal, walking her meat-eating dog, saw his shirt & said, “Excuuuuse me, but you’re a Xenophobe! If everyone was
vegetarian we could grow our population infinitely without harming the
environment!” Like, sure…
It affects the medical field: Nathan
Treholm said folks told him, “Don’t smoke! It’ll
stunt your growth.” He didn’t. “Don’t lift weights! It will keep you short.” He
didn’t. “Don’t sit close to TV. It will hurt your eyes.” He never watched
TV. He says, “I was the biggest loser!
Now I’m 5’6” with glasses. Can ya imagine what I’d
look like if I’d done all that stuff?” J
Religion
is even affected in growth of people. Arrogant tycoon told minister “There’s no
need to pray for me. I have everything; I’m rich & good looking.” Minister
replied, “Well, you might want to pray for humility!” That tycoon needs a
growth spurt he could only get in God’s Word.
We cannot grow, cannot have the deep
transformation we all want and need until we turn our life and our hearts over
to Jesus. We cannot rest on our “laurels,” whatever they may be, or we’ll not
grow at all and be dumb as a post or- gasp! - as that young, rich tycoon!
We have to read the Bible, meditate on it, LOVE it, use it, and practice the
pleasant presence of God in us. Then Jeremiah 29:11-14 will be true. God says:
“I know the plans I have for you, plans for your welfare, not calamity, to give
you a future and a hope. Then you will call on Me and come pray to Me and I
will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for me with
all your heart, and I will be found by you and restore your fortunes… and bring
you back…” Oh boy oh boy! That’s real growth! We don’t have to be six years old
for the rest of our lives-whew! We can grow, and be more like Jesus!
Patti Iverson writes from Medford, Oregon.
Randpi2@charter.net