We’re Growing

This phrase has steadied my mothering lately, a gentle reminder that nature isn’t providing much in this season (at least not overtly):

We’re growing.

When my littlest is set down from her high chair and fusses to be held, and I tell her she needs to go play for a few minutes while I finish my own dinner, and sometimes, eventually, for a moment, she does: we’re growing.

When it’s 40 degrees at the end of January and we venture to a park for the change of scenery and fresh air, and my towel to wipe off playground equipment is sopping, but we watch the robins flit around the walking path then go home, a mound of cold clothes in the entryway ready to be washed and a warm bath running. I notice I’m not grumpy: we’re growing.

When the two of them chase one another around the loop of the first floor, the baby now capable of playing more like a toddler, and I hear their giggles erupt, the most beautiful duet: we’re growing.

When my oldest peels a whole bag of carrots, writes her name, gets dressed for the day: we’re growing.

When my body aches from the bending and holding, and I’m tired and so thankful that they’re in bed, and the spiritual dialogue tonight does not begin with, “How can I do this again tomorrow?” but rather, “I know you’ll refresh me to do it again tomorrow.” We’re growing.

“Of course, none of us is capable of running swiftly on the right course while we remain in the earthly confinement of our bodies. Indeed, most of us are so oppressed with weakness that we make little progress—staggering, limping, and crawling on the ground. But let us move forward according to the measure of our resources and pursue the path we have begun to walk. None of us will move forward with so little success that we will not make some daily progress in the way. Therefore, let us keep trying so that we might continually make some gains in the way of the Lord, and neither let us despair over how small our successes are. For however much our successes fall short of our desire, our efforts aren’t in vain when we are farther along today than yesterday.”

-John Calvin, A Little Book on the Christian Life