Grow

He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. -Psalm 147:7-9

April showers bring forth sprouts from the ground. Trees are budding, lawns are greening and early spring flowers are opening. Watching the earth awake from a winter sleep reminds us for another year that God wants things to grow.

As we think spring, let's also think growth and marvel at the many ways God has built growth into his plan. On a simple level, we can experience that God wants us to grow physically. We grow from children to adults. With proper nutrition and exercise, our bones grow stronger and our muscles larger. We can appreciate, as the Bible reminds us, that we are wonderfully made.

We also can grow in knowledge and wisdom. God has blessed us with intelligence and emotions that we can continually grow to become better human beings. The more life we experience, the more we can grow rewarding and lasting relationships, appreciate other people and the world around us, and be thankful that we are blessed simply to be a part of this wonderful life.

I am now 82, so I have a few years of experience and now know that you continue to grow and flourish all your life (at least this far).

As life goes on, you change your methods and goals. At one point you need to grow to get out of school, and then grow to stay in school so you can move on and up. Then you need to start a business or a career and grow in learning how to survive.

I traveled that road and succeeded, and now my goals are to be a worthy husband to my wife, Helen, and to focus on my family. Our children are all wonderfully married and between them have 16 grandchildren. Now they are in the growing process and I cheer them on and encourage them to be good students and always be positive.

Each generation has to learn it again. We are only one generation away from losing our faith and our freedom. Only one generation from becoming whiners instead of winners.

Keep growing in:
Faith in Christ
Learning
Working smarter
Giving love and receiving it
Serving your Lord
Love of Country and your neighbor

Go and grow, you can do it!

If you're interested, there is more information about:
The most important event of all time and
The most important Book of all time.

email this message to a friend   |   DW Home

Rich DeVos is the former chairman of Gospel Communications. He is also the author of "Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life," co-founder of Amway Corp., and owner and chairman of the NBA's Orlando Magic.