I know she will shoot me but I had a daughter who had a birthday this past Saturday. Janna turned 35. So yes, that makes me an old man. 🙂

It got me to thinking though. I know there are times people say I don’t act my age (no comments from the peanut gallery), but I’m glad Janna is getting older…and with age comes responsibility and maturity. In other words, she is becoming more of an adult. I have watched her blossom from a baby to a toddler to a gangly Jr. High volleyball player, to a high school student to a college student who decided to pursue children’s ministry of some form. She recently began a new job at Primrose of Reynoldsburg, OH. I am so proud of her maturity and growth (as I am of Tami, our oldest daughter).

I have to confess I would be quite concerned if Janna was still drinking from a bottle. Or asking her parents what clothes to wear (she used to be my fashion police). Or still eating baby food. I would say something was wrong. Big time wrong. What if she didn’t grow up at all? What if she reverted backwards from her adult stage to a baby stage?

There are many who do that spiritually. Having been “Christians” for years they show no growth or desire to grow. Some, having been “Christians” for years, revert backwards as they allow bitterness, revenge, lack of forgiveness, divided loyalties, and a host of other issues become more prominent in their lives. Why don’t we get as alarmed about that as we do when it happens physically?

“Let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity…” Heb.6:1

“Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” I Cor.14:20

Those are just two Scriptures which show us the importance of growing and becoming an adult in our spiritual lives. It is easy to fall into that trap, of coasting along. Perhaps we need to adopt the slogan we will hear some say: “Be the adult!”

What do you think?