Last, but not least of the signs of maturity is: a mature person seeks wisdom before acting.
Susan Peters once said, “Children have a much better chance of growing up if their parents have done first.” Here’s to modeling and developing authentic maturity in your kids.
A mature person is teachable.
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I have two young men who are my “once-in-a-while” visitors; my texting buddies. They just come to talk. I love them very much as my own kids. I marvel at their tenacity, their perseverance, and their courage to admit their painful traumas they went through as boys. Their honesty is remarkable, considering all they have had to endure. They are hardworking, raising their own children with their wives in their small apartments they call home, never expecting anything from anyone. I see how they have grown wisely through all the obstacles in life that aren’t uncommon to most people – a hard beginnings.
Like me, they enjoy a good conversation. When they come and leave, I know deep in my heart that I have learned something from them that change is really possible. Growth is possible. I’m also bold in my counsel, “Love and protect your wives, fight for their hearts and be kind to them. Remember your wife came before the children. Don’t be a “macho man” who thinks that being affectionate, caring, and nice to his wife and children is being weak. That’s being chicken…quack quack… Show love and affection to your wives and your children will grow knowing they were born out of love and good behaviors follow.
On their birthdays this year I texted them the following: You are the only you this world will know and something about your life is meant to make something about God known no one else can do. You are glorious; made in the image of God.
Wise person never presume to have all the answers. The wiser they get the more they realize they need more wisdom. They’re not ashamed of seeking counsel from older folks, younger folks, and adults, friends, teachers or other sources. Only the wise seek wisdom.
Dan Allendar says that we are not to waste our pain. We must become wiser men and women. Be wise in the conviction that there really aren’t simple processes to bring about restoration of our hearts. There aren’t any three easy steps. We have got to escape a culture that demands control by being able to quantify change in four easy steps. Those who developed steps may have comprehended how life is meant to but they have not offered us a harder direction… the path of wisdom.
We develop wisdom by suffering and being faithful in the process to continue a path that honors the reality of the goodness of God. Actually becoming wise is not a one size fits all approach. We must lose control of holding our masks in place, pretending to have it all together but be real and honest with ourselves. When we fail, we start again, trying, failing and learn in the midst of it. That’s the interplay we are required to be if we want to become wiser. [/restrict]