Growing pains

When my children were smaller they would sometimes have restless sleep, nights when they would be so uncomfortable and in pain that they would cry out. I would rush into their rooms, see them grasping their little limbs, and instantly know what was wrong. These young little ones, helpless to what was happening inside of them, were experiencing growing pains. Physiologically, their little bones inside of their arms, legs, back, feet, hands, fingers and toes were stretching and lengthening, getting stronger and thicker. I knew that what was happening to them was a good thing, a natural "need to" programmed instinctually into their miraculous machine of the human body. But to them, these pains simply hurt. They didn't care why they were hurting- that the pain was a sign of something good. All they knew is that they didn't do anything to cause the pain, and nobody could do anything to take it away. As a mother, I felt helpless. Medicine wasn't the answer, they were not sick. Sometimes a warm bath might give them a diversion, but the bone inside them was still growing regardless of the environment outside and so the pain would still be there. So, what was I to do?? My heart swelled up with compassion for them, and without thought I would wrap my arms around my child, bring them close to me, and hold them (yes, even my macho man Nick). Sometimes I would sing softly to them (Cecily's favorite was "Hotel California" by the Eagles- my favorite group). Most of the time I would rock them back and forth. And always, I would pray for them.

As adults our body may no longer be going through the physical changes of growth, but our spirits (characters) are in a stage of constant and perpetual strengthening. And just like when we were children, we find that growth still hurts... and is still good for us. How many times have we said "Why is this happening to me?" (I didn't cause this to happen, and nobody is doing anything to take it away). "Why do good things happen to bad people?" (How come I'm being punished when I didn't do anything wrong?). "Why doesn't God stop/fix/prevent this pain?" (Why isn't my parent helping me?) Yes, as adults we ask ourselves these questions, just as in childhood children ask similar things about their growth (see the comments in parenthesis).

And just as in childhood we do get a response from our parent, our Father above. He instinctually knows our pain. If He knows every hair on our head, every breath in our body, every thought and feeling we have before we do, of course He knows we are in pain. He didn't cause the pain; did I cause my children's? NO. He rushes to our side whenever we cry out. He gathers us in His arms in compassion and love, and he gently soothes us so that we are sure He is there. He helps us to calm down, gives us peace. He breathes prayer over us, speaks scripture into our hearts. I prayed over my children to Him, and now I receive direct guidance from the source. No, He does not take away our pain. I didn't take away Cecily's nor Nick's. He knows the pain is necessary, that it is a good thing. He knows that we are growing, that we are becoming more in His image, that our spirit is gaining strength to handle the next phase in our life, whatever that may be.

My children don't experience the growing pains in their bodies as often anymore. But they still experience growth every day. They have new pains all of the time, only now it is their hearts and emotions that are the target, not simply their bones. I still rush to their side when they cry out in pain, I still wrap my arms around them, pray for them, do anything and everything I can to have them know that I am there and that I care. And just as I have always had to do, I lay their pain at the Lord's feet, the greatest Healer of all. I rest in the knowledge that He will take care of them, just as he always has me. Yes, we all go through growing pains. How blessed we all are because of that. I may not be able to do some of the things I did as a child, but I'm grateful that I will always get the opportunity to grow in the Lord.