Adulthood

This year I am 24 years old. A young adult, but I told God the other day, I feel like I’m walking into adulthood for the very first time.

He replied to my statement with a question, How do you define adulthood?

Gosh, I didn’t really know, but I began to see..

Adulthood does not come by age, nor does it really come by life experiences, although that is what society teaches us.

You see, an adult can be a child (I know many that act like children, I think we all do :)) and a child can be an adult, it all depends on their level of growth and maturity. I'm not talking physical changes here, I'm talking internal.

Those who are mature act out love because they are love, those who are immature act out for self because they are self consumed.

In year 24 I’m making decisions that are no longer based upon, what will others think of me, what is best for me, how can I make this person proud of me, am I doing it right?…

Instead my choices are becoming based upon, God, where can you use me to shine the brightest? We shine so others can see out of their own darkness, but a person can only shine when they have worked out of their own darkness because only a free man can set prisoners free.

As we grow, it’s no longer about learning what love is or even simply knowing who love is, but also becoming love for others. This is the Christ in you, the hope of glory. This is the freedom and this is the kingdom- inside of you.

You must have the courage to make your own choices in adulthood (maturity, love) when faced with adversity. No one will ever give it to you, the world loves to indulge in opinions and offences. The choices make you strong and the battles will make you humble. You will have mercy on others who will grow to this place with you. A mutual understanding will grow between you because you will both know what you fought through to get to the place of peace and love.

You and I are learning and growing together.

Don’t you see, you have so much ahead of you! So much to come and so much to become.

Now is not the time to hide under the shadow of others expectations, thoughts, or beliefs towards you and about you. You are free. You are free from that, you don’t have to let it weigh you down. It’s time for us to grow up.

-M