Maturity

 

We often think maturity comes with age.  While it sometimes comes concurrently with age, maturity is not the result of age.  As far as I can tell, age only makes me older.  I mature by accepting responsibility.  I mature by being accountable.  Time and experience sometimes help make this possible, but not always.

I know some people who are "mature for their age."  We generally say this when we experience a young person who displays responsible characteristics beyond their years.  And, we all know people who do not "act their age."  A sixteen year old can be more mature than than a 45 year old.  It is possible.

So, how do we mature?  We learn to accept responsibility.  We learn to be accountable.  We learn to be examples - pawsitive examples!  These are not bad words.  These are good words.  No, these are great words.  How much better would we all be if we all strived for maturity?

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.  ~ 1 Timothy 4:12