Growing up is complicated. It takes a while. For some of us, it takes a lot longer than for others. Does God expect us to grow up? Yes. In Ephesians 4:15, He tells us “Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” Paul warns us about needing the ‘milk’ of the gospel and not growing up enough to accept ‘solid food’ from the Word of God. So, we are expected to grow up and accept responsibility for ourselves and for those God gives us.
In “Choosing Life,” my story is one of a child grown up at age 9. My mother worked, and she was a diabetic, so by age 9, I was almost totally independent. My folks provided room and board, but I took care of myself. I got myself up and off to school. I did what was expected of me at school, and I helped with the cooking and cleaning at home. I stayed home alone when my folks went away for the weekend. And, I took care of my mother. In my generation, we were expected to be fully adult by age 18, fully capable of supporting ourselves and being responsible citizens. In previous generations, that age was even younger.
Growing up is letting go. I Cor. 13 says that when I was a child I thought like a child and spoke like a child, but when I became an adult, I put away “childish things.” Basically letting go of childish things means it’s not all about me anymore. Playtime is not completely over, but it’s not the central focus of my life. It happens when the work is done. It’s learning to give and to love, to stop being easily offended, to work and accept responsibility. As for me, I know some teenagers who are more mature than their parents. I know some twenty year olds who are functioning well in the adult world. And, unfortunately, I know some in their thirties, forties, and, yes, even fifties, who need to grow up at last. I guess they didn’t get the memo.
