The Lady Who Grew Backward

“…till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children…” [Ephesians 4:13,14]

The lady who grew backward was a woman who lived in Virginia some years ago. In the Virginia Medical Monthly her doctor told the story. She had grown normally, married, and had three children. Life was good until the husband and father died when the children were in high school. The mother doubled her devotion to the children. She changed her clothes to those of a girl of 20, and joined in her children’s parties and fun.

In a few years the children noticed that as they grew older their mother was growing younger. Psychiatrists call it “personality regression,” which means “a person walking backward.” Usually such people stop going backward at a certain age. But not this woman. She slipped backward at the rate of one year for every three or four months of time that went forward. Although she was 61 years old she acted and talked like a 6-yearold. She was sent to a sanitarium, where she insisted on wearing short dresses, playing with toys, and babbling like a child.

Then she became like a three-year-old; she spilled her food, crawled on the floor, and cried “Mama.” Backward still further to the age of one, she drank milk and curled up like a tiny baby. Finally, she went back over the line and died.

Spiritual regression is an even more serious disorder. Peter tells us to “grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2.Peter 3:18), but some Christians seem to slide backward in their growth. Moving forward is our best weapon against turning from God. And it happens through growing both in knowledge and grace. Not only do we need to study God’s Word every day, seeking to understand more about the Lord, but we are to walk in grace.

The church isn’t one giant nursery meant to pass out baby bottles and pacifiers to everyone who walks through its doors. It is a training ground for “growing up” (see Ephesians 4:15) into mature Christians who represent Jesus and are strong in faith.