Where There’s Growth, There’s Life

“If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭15:32‬ ‭

These wee tulips are just in the possibility stage.

I mean, there aren’t fully formed leaves yet. No blossoms. Not even buds where blooms could show up.

Yet, I’m extremely happy to see them!

You see, these little clumps of baby leaflets represent something.

Growth.

Small sprouts, certainly. But where there’s growth, there’s life.

In the same way, if you can see places in your life where you are making progress – baby steps into new territory – then you have cause for celebration!

Because where there’s growth, there’s life.

If you have more tolerance before you blow your top?

Growth.

If you can say no to that temptation?

Oooh – growth!

If you bite your tongue rather than engage in gossip, push away that extra helping, volunteer without complaint, practice boundaries even when they feel messy and uncomfortable – well, that’s growth.

Any and every step we make toward being more like Jesus is a good thing. It shows that we have a pulse and are committed to moving in the right direction. It proves that God is doing something in our interiors.

Even when we mess up.

When we can look at our lives and see wee tulip leaves – er, marks of progress, we are growing in our understanding of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.

Rejoice when you see even small areas of growth with me?

Father, You desire that our lives would become more and more reflective of Your goodness, kindness, compassion, and grace. Encourage us with signs of progress on our journey. Amen.