Gobs of brightly colored frosting nestled Dora and Boots atop chocolate and yellow cake cupcakes. An impromptu birthday party for Gabby brought cousins to play with and a couple of fun filled hours in the sunshine with bugs to explore, a bounce house to jump in, and a climber to navigate. Back home, Gabby unwrapped her gifts from the grandma who very much wanted to be at her “real” birthday party, but found herself with much else going on that afternoon. Gabby was turning three, and we practiced holding down two fingers, and letting three stand up so she could proudly declare the delight of being three years old. I do remember bringing Gabby’s older sister to the hospital to see the brand new baby she hoped to play with rather quickly. Arianna found she had to wait awhile, but as the months passed, the little bundle that only wanted to sleep and eat, began to respond to those around her, learned to crawl, and then walked, and discovered toys and books and videos, and sooo much more. How does it all happen??? I watch some of our still growing young people at church and I am amazed at the skills and insights they already possess. How did they grow up so fast??? Like so many things in life, it happened one moment at a time, and one day at a time.
Friendships grow one day at a time, but so too does success, and character development, and even our knowledge of God. Marriages and families grow stronger; the student becomes the teacher. The Little Leaguer turns pro, and the backyard bug explorer contributes to the sciences that help us understand the world of nature. Each is a journey, a journey that may have had a nebulous beginning, but it moves forward, and potential is nurtured and grown and unveiled. And it happens one moment at a time, and one day at a time. These are journeys too, that although they don’t just simply “happen,” they are welcomed and embraced.
There are journeys though we are called to walk that we don’t welcome, and yet the necessity of embracing the journey is still there. We may journey through forgiveness and reconciliation. We may journey through deep loss and sorrow. There are those who journey through emotional, mental, or physical handicap. Others journey to regain hope or purpose or joy. These journeys could have a very definite beginning or a nebulous one, but the choice is made early in the journey to walk forward. Walking with God and making the difficult commitment to keep on walking will nurture the journey as our steps sometimes are backward and sometimes detour, and sometimes the path is strewn with complications. But the journey does make us stronger, our values and passions are grown, and in time, even on the journey we did not welcome, the potential God has for us is still unveiled. One moment at a time, and one day at a time.
– Bev
(Related Bible reading: Proverbs 3:1-18)
