The Essence of Maturity

How do you mature?

I have been asked that question several times. The reason I've been asked that I don't know why. But apparently the people who asked it thought I would be able to answer.

The first time I was asked how does one become mature I snorted and waved them off. How should I know? Who did they think I was, some spiritual guru or something? (which by the way, I'm not at all! Just ask my family and friends) :P But then I got to thinking about it.

Seriously, how does one become mature? Spiritually and mentally.

The dictionary's definition is:

"completed, perfected, or elaborated in full by the mind: fully developed in body or mind, as a person"

But how does one put that into action? How does one achieve that level of maturity? What is the essence of maturity.

It took me awhile to really figure this out. Well I didn't really figure it out the Lord brought it to my heart.

We become mature through hardships, trials, and tests. Emotionally and mentally we get older. Not necessarily age wise, (that's inevitable for all of us) but we become wise. This is what grows us. The more we go through the more mature we become.

My sixteenth year was probably my hardest year. God took me through so much. I had a bunch of medical issues and I thought I was seriously going to die. But I wouldn't trade or erase that year for anything. I learned some valuable lessons. One of the main ones was to trust God.

   It really isn't easy to just trust God. We all want to have control over our life because if it's in our hands we think that we are safe. But we have it all backwards! If we just place our life in God's hands He will do amazing things with it.

My younger sister Corrie and I were talking the other day. She told me that she really liked it when we had tornadoes come our way because we had nothing to be afraid of. I wholeheartedly agreed with her. It's because I know that God has us in the palm of His hand. And that is the safest place to be. (And we've never been hit by a tornado.)

Anyway, I grew in certain areas that I couldn't have matured in if I hadn't gone through all those trials. It has paid off!

So when a hard time, test, or trial comes your way, don't freak. Give it to God and ask Him to guide you through it. He brought it in to your life in the first place.

Are you perhaps going through a hardship right now?

A Reminisce

The day, or a few days before my birthday, I always get the birthday blues. Yes, as weird as that sounds, it's true.
The birthday blues are a case of pre-birthday depression. Not really. I'm totally pulling your leg.
No, the birthday blues come over me whenever I start reminiscing about my life. About the entire past year. What all has taken place during that year? How have I grown in the Lord? How have I matured. What is something I want to change in my next year of life? And the list goes on and on and on.
Then I start thinking, these are my last few days of being this age. I will never be this age ever, ever again. That is depressing.
This time around it was sixteen.
I loved being sweet sixteen. It seemed to be such a fun and carefree age. Although, in reality it really wasn't.
I had so many challenges during all of last year. With my medical issues, which lasted almost all of my sixteenth year, and the trials the Lord sent my way so that I would grow, it was a tough year. I love challenges though. There is nothing wrong with a challenge. Anyway, I'm really bunny-trailing today....
There were lots of awesome things that took place this past year. I started my blog. I acquired a bunch of pen pals! I was introduced to the One Year Adventure Novel forum by a good friend. Thank you, Reagan, for introducing me to that epic place! :) I have met lots of new people.
And the list goes on. So you get the general idea of what the birthday blues is. They're not that bad, really. :P

Here are a few thoughts I conjured up while reminiscing:

What is something that I want to change in my life during this next year?
I want to change the fact that I'm so busy. Or at least I say I'm busy. Am I really busy, or is it just the little trivial things that coagulate and create a time sucking mechanism that sweeps through my days. Honestly, am I truly busy doing things that need to be done? This is something I can sort through, but not today.

What do I want to stay the same?
I want the fact that I live in a free country to stay the same. I'm hoping against hope, I know. Please, don't burst my bubble and force me to face reality. No, I'm totally kidding.

What would I like to accomplish in this next year?
Thanks for asking! Now let me borrow your ear for a minute and I'll try to talk as fast as I can before my time runs out. :P (I'm in a really playful mood this morning, please forgive me)
Well... lets see... I would like to finish my novel and get it published. I'd like to get another one started as well.
My graduating is inevitable, so that's happening.
I would absolutely love to meet a bunch of the OYANers. I'd love to meet all of my pen pals as well. You dear girls mean so much to me.
I would love to go to the 2013 Summer Workshop.
I want to make it to Carnegie Hall in the World Piano Competition. I think I would absolutely floor my piano teacher if I did that.
I want to grow even more in the Lord. I want my relationship with God to flourish into something grand.
I want to strengthen the relationship with my siblings into something much more solid.

As I enter into another year of my life, I'm not completely sure what the Lord has planned for me.
I do know this; whatever He has for me will more then likely have challenges.
Bring it on!! :)