Rockey We had an amazing event happen at our house recently, earth-shaking in fact. My son lost his first tooth. It was a grand and glorious, as well as, scary event. For my son to realize that something was going to fall off of his body made him question how safe he actually was.

We, as adults, remember those moments when our children experienced that change and chuckle. We may even remember when we ourselves lost some teeth. As children that is and not as adults. We know that it is a part of life. It is part of the growth process and that children need to grow in order for their permanent teeth to come in.

Growth is a natural part of the way God designed life. We were never meant to stay little. We are designed to grow into maturity. Often times we forget that about our life in Christ and about life in general. We feel safer if things stay the same and never change. We feel better if we never have to adapt to a new technology that will make life better. We feel better not having to accept and understand someone from a different culture who is now our neighbor. Those changes are scary but they are a part of growth. And healthy growth is good.

The alternative is to only focus on ourselves and our needs and shrink inward. That results in a stunted growth and eventually wilting and death. That is the opposite of what God desires for our life. He calls us to be fruitful and multiply so that we can give God the glory.

I believe that God wants us in our churches and our homes and even in our county to be ready for growth. We know that there are many things that need addressed in our community. Growth will help us address them. Let's face it, we have an issue with meth in our county and we have an issue with poverty, as we grow we can address these issues and help Carroll County become a better place for our families.

By the way, the tooth fell out easily and with little trauma and there happened to be a small gift under the pillow the next day. My little boy is growing up and that is good.

Todd Ladd is pastor at the Delphi United Methodist Church.