I AM ALL GROWN UP NOW

I AM ALL GROWN UP NOW

When did you know that you were grown?

I hope you answered truthfully. For some of us (me) the answer is “I am not always sure that am grown (an adult) even now.” Sometimes I wish that I could take off adulthood like one removes a winter jacket upon entering a warm house. Others may have replied, “When I had to figure out how to ______.” Well, I thought I was all grown up when I moved to Lake Worth Florida, found an apartment, purchased a bed on credit and had the phone service connected in my name (before cell phone days). Thank God all other utilities were included in the rent and a neighbor gave me a couch.

I thought to myself, “I have arrived.” I was the heroine in my personal success story, I was an adult, and no one could tell me anything. Biggest mistake. The feeling was short lived. I had not retained the lesson of managing money and was soon knocked off my adult feet. I called home.

I have learned over and over that being an adult is a moving target, and being all grown up is hard. It doesn’t protect one from making stupid decisions with consequences that often seem disproportionate to the action. Adults can do whatever they want when they want and without permission from anyone. Laughable – yes adults can do all of this, but real adults know this: just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

The glitter of my adult status slowly turned to sawdust. I longed for the time where I could function as an adult with the safety net of parents to catch me if I failed. Good parents remove safety nets at some point and the failures become ours to own.

So how did I know that I was all grown up? When I, without hesitation, took responsibility for my actions and lived with the consequences – good or bad. I have come a long way and think I turned out better than okay.

I think you would agree with me about being an okay adult unless you happen to be a passenger in my car when I am behind a driver doing 55MPH in the high-speed lane on the expressway or you are with me in the grocery store behind the customer who waits until the cashier says the total to open their wallet to fish for cash or credit card. Then you might think I am a spoiled impatient teenager including the rolling of eyes.

1 Cor. 14:20

PONDER THIS THOUGHT---Growing up is never finished.