What does growing up mean?

Ever wondered what growing up means?

Not in the physical sense.

I don't know. What does growing up mean? Perhaps...

To realise one day that life is no longer a nice bed of thornless roses?

If that's growing up then I grew up many many years ago. More than 10 years ago, to be precise.

To realise that people whom have sheltered you all your life may not always be there to help you find a footing in this world?

If that's growing up then I grew up pretty suddenly a few weeks back.

To realise that you can never ever create a perfect life for yourself?

Realised this ages ago.

To realise that eventually, people all work to get money to survive, and throw away ideals about the perfect job?

Threw away the notion of a perfect job long ago.

To realise that no matter how much one tries to win the game of life, there will never be a winner?

Is life even a game? A deadly one, perhaps.

To realise that death can snare anyone at anytime, irregardless of age, sex, social status, behaviour?

I have no problem with death. I fear living more than death.

To have our idealistic ideas about life completely, absolutely shattered, without even the slightest dignity of prevarications?

Tell me about it.

To realise that we ought to cherish our loved ones at all times before death tears them away from us with its vicious claws?

Talk about regret. :-(

There is no limit to growing up. People grow up at different paces, and growing up earlier/later than the rest is of no advantage/disadvantage. It is how we cope with growing up.

If those few statements I made define growing up, then I wish I never grew up. I wish I can throw away this cynical outlook I have of life. I wish I can throw away the burdens that come with growing up. I wish...

What I've really understood though, is that we are never, ever, ever done with growing up.

And that no matter how grown up we ever feel, we eventually find ourselves completely naked before God.

To run into the loving embrace of God is a remarkable thing. When I find Him pushing me towards something I don't want to do I usually desist from heading towards it and opt to run away. But always, always I find myself being tugged back to Him. My greatest fear is that I should someday give up running the race, and join in the world.

And it is during times like these that I realise I am but a child of God, and to rely on my own wisdom and strength would be the height of folly.

I am yours, Lord.