Growing into this

When I was ten I had the privilege of going on a trip of a lifetime to Greece with my family and my Yia yia.  People had blatantly told me that it was a bit of a bummer that a ten year old was taking the trip since I wouldn’t remember it.  Well that was enough for my feisty little self to give a silent promise to my heart that I would soak it in and remember every last little thing I possibly could.  To this day it is still one of the most vivid trips of my life and the details I remember are incredible.

On that trip I had only one desire for a souvenir.  I wanted to find a white Grecian dress.  Alas it was insanely difficult to find one and in the end I settled for a little white dress.  I outgrew it far too quickly.  But while we were on one of the islands my brother wanted to find a t-shirt.  We went in this tacky touristy shop and while he made his selection I walked around.  I hadn’t gone in with the expectation of getting something but then I spotted a bright cobalt blue shirt with five artsy colorful butterflies on it.  I was hesitant to ask for it but something about that shirt made me bold.  “Daddy can I get that butterfly shirt.”  My sweet father happily obliged.  Since the shop didn’t carry children’s sizes I got a small but it still hung on me.  I didn’t care.  I loved it.

Through the years I wore it over and over and as time passed and my closet got cleaned out again and again that butterfly shirt stayed.  I’m 28 now and I still have that shirt.  And yes, I still wear it because I adore it.  Eighteen years later it fits a little differently now.  That’s because it actually fits.  I’ve grown into it.  It no longer hangs on me.

I think there are a lot of things in life like that.  We get them and we love (or we don’t…) them but they don’t quite fit us.  Yet.  Some things take time to grow into.  Sometimes it is friendship, sometimes it is knowledge, and sometimes it’s just life experience.  Thinking about this idea of growing into things reminded me of a quote I read forever ago in Corrie ten Boom’s book The Hiding Place.

“He turned to look at me, as he always did when answering a question, but to my surprise he said nothing.  At last he stood up, lifted his traveling case off the floor and set it on the floor.
‘Will you carry it off the train, Corrie?’ he said.
I stood up and tugged at it.  It was crammed with the watches and spare parts he had purchased that morning.
‘It’s too heavy,’ I said.
‘Yes,’ he said, ‘and it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load. It’s the same way, Corrie, with knowledge.  Some knowledge is too heavy for children.  When you are older and stronger, you can bear it.  For now you must trust me to carry it for you.’”

It’s okay for things to take time.  Maybe there are things in your life right now that don’t make a lot of sense because you’re still growing into them.  You’re still putting on weight and substance that make you, you.  You’re forming still and eventually that thing that feels too big will fit you perfectly.

~

Friends, this month after much consideration I’ll be taking off the month of October from blogging to work on a project I just keep putting off.  I’m really excited about it and can’t wait to tell you all about it so stay tuned!  I will still be sharing though in the Dear Wednesday email (only one a week so you don’t have to worry about me spamming you 😉 ) so if you like what you find on the blog that’s more of the same but a little more personal.  Plus I’ll probably share there first what I’m working on so if you want to stay in the loop that’s the best way to do it. 🙂  Just leave your email address and first name below, email me at misselaini [ @ ] gmail.com (remove brackets + spaces), or sign up HERE! (Make sure you check your email to confirm and your promotions inbox for weekly emails.)  I look forward to being back on here in November!