M is for Maturity

M is for Maturity


My daughter Brittany is 19 years old and was married a few weeks ago. Most people, including Dr. Laura, agree that she is too young to get married.


 Her father and I considered that opinion but as we carefully examined her characteristics with our parental senses, we found the evidence of absolute, undeniable maturity. Just like when you touch and smell a piece of fruit which had come into ripeness. It is in its “state of maturity”, fully developed, its perfected condition. 


But what is true maturity? 


Maturity means acting responsibly; it means learning from your mistakes and trying not to make the same ones over and over; it means seeing life in the broader context; it means relying on your own resources to resolve problems and challenges that come up in your everyday life; and it means sacrificing play when there is work to be done. 


My grandma recently made a statement that caused me to stop and listen more carefully. She said, “Brittany has always been mature.” I was confused. I didn’t understand at first, so I asked for further explanation.  She continued, “When she was 2, she behaved as a 2 year old should behave and at 5, 10, 13, 16 and 18 she embraced each new stage accepting the added responsibilities. Maturity is acting your age.”


As our conversation continued, my grandma was very complimentary, as most grandmas would be, for being mature and for raising mature children.  


I was very intentional about training my children to be mature. Here is an idea of my Training Agenda:


Age 2:  Potty train

Age 5: Teach them to read.

Age 10: Teach them to do their own laundry.

Age 13: Teach them to handle relationships with the opposite sex. 

Age 16: Teach them to drive.

Age 18: Teach them to budget and to do their taxes.


Along with many other items on my “training agenda”, these tasks became my number one priority at these ages.


I Corinthians 13 may be the love chapter, but don’t forget 2 Corinthians 13. Do you know it?

It’s the Maturity chapter. I encourage you to read it and apply it as you help your children mature.


Just a little side note - Brittany graduated from college in December and has a full time job in addition to being newly married and head over heels in love with her husband, Andy White.

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