We grow up

You know what? We grow up incredibly fast. All of us, not just as kids.

Last week I celebrated my 27th birthday. And even though the years do keep ticking over, it's hard to see the meadow for the wildflowers. But I think if i look really hard, I can make out change. I can see progress. Maybe people aren't noticing the usual "growing up" stuff, like talking or walking being mastered (sometimes my husband wonders if I did actually pass these milestones or whether I cheated on the test). But despite my undeniably clumsy nature and "lost for words" moments, i think I've changed every year.

God has put before me new experiences to deal with in his grace. New frustrations to test my patience. New disappointments to overcome and see with perspective. And all these moments add up to something I think which goes deeper than developmental milestone "growing up" phases. These things contribute to our character. And how we respond to these life tests push us to have more graceful characters, or harsher ones. We may choose to take the disappointments and dwell on them. To seek refuge in the dark places in life. Depression can feel oddly comforting, like a cold friend. 

But the hard part of these tests is to look to those around you in the midst of them. To see someone else's life as greater than your own. To see them be supported or grown, or nurtured by you despite the circumstances.

Only by doing this is our characters shaped more like Jesus, and our lives bear the mark of Jesus' impact on them. Only if our characters are shaped by Jesus as our model can we say that we are truly growing. Because God made life, and only if we live like him can we say that we lived it fully and so achieved it's ultimate purpose as defined by God.

God, I'm ok to not be wrapped in cotton wool. I don't want my life to be a waste. Let me live it as it's meant to be lived, where I put others first and my own feelings and selfishness last. 

I've been given tests before. I don't know how well I did at them or not, i guess i'll find out at the end. But I know my growth as a person is only just starting. Because now that I have the ability to think and reflect, God will use these skills to push me further. To develop me further. So that I can progress in life from the pureed fruit and farex to the Chicken schnitzel and pasta.

So be prepared everyone, because I think that the last stages of life growth are far more impressive than the first few. Get yourselves ready for the change ahead!