MATURITY is unselfishness – responding to the needs of others, often at the expense of one's own desires or wishes.
MATURITY is the capacity to fare unpleasantness and frustration, discomfort and defeat, without complaint or collapse.
MATURITY is humility. It is being big enough to say, “I was wrong”. And when right, the mature person need not say, “I told you so”.
MATURITY is the ability to make a decision and stand by it. The immature spend their lives exploring endless possibilities then do nothing.
MATURITY means dependability, keeping one's word, coming thorough in a crisis.
MATURITY is the art of living in peace with that which cannot be changed.
1 Corinthians 14:20
"Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are MATURE; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in A MYSTERY, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; but just as it is written,
“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
1 Corinthians 2:6
Ephesians 4:9-16
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
"Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him."
Colossians 2:6-16
Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN. And WE EAGERLY AWAIT A SAVIOR from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."
Philippians 3:15-21
True mark of MATURITY is when somebody hurts you and you try to understand their situation instead of trying to hurt them back.
Unspoken - Reason (Official Lyric Video)
I'm Still Learning
I've learned —
that you cannot make someone love you.
All you can do is be someone who can be loved.
The rest is up to them.
I've learned —
that no matter how much I care,
some people just don't care back.
I've learned —
that it takes years to build up trust,
and only seconds to destroy it.
I've learned —
that it's not what you have in your life
but who you have in your life that counts.
I've learned —
that you can get by on charm
for about fifteen minutes.
After that, you'd better know something.
I've learned —
that you shouldn't compare
yourself to the best others can do
but to the best you can do.
I've learned —
that it's not what happens to people
that's important. It's what they do about it.
I've learned —
that you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.
I've learned —
that no matter how thin you slice it,
there are always two sides.
I've learned —
that it's taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.
I've learned —
that it's a lot easier
to react than it is to think.
I've learned —
that you should always leave
loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.
I've learned —
that you can keep going
long after you think you can't.
I've learned —
that we are responsible for what we do,
no matter how we feel.
I've learned —
that either you control your attitude
or it controls you.
I've learned —
that regardless of how hot and steamy
a relationship is at first, the passion fades,
and there had better be
something else to take its place.
I've learned —
that heroes are the people
who do what has to be done
when it needs to be done,
regardless of the consequences.
I've learned —
that learning to forgive takes practice.
Yet it is always worth the work.
I've learned —
that there are people who love you dearly,
but just don't know how to show it.
And, never bother to learn
I've learned —
that money is a lousy way of keeping score,
and an even poorer way of showing love.
I've learned —
that my best friend and I can do anything
or nothing and have the best time.
I've learned —
that sometimes the people you expect
to kick you when you're down
will be the ones to help you get back up.
I've learned —
that sometimes when I'm angry
I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me
the right to be cruel.
I've learned —
that true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance...
and so does true love.
I've learned —
that just because someone doesn't love you
the way you want them to, doesn't mean
they don't love you with all they have.
I've learned —
that maturity has more to do with
the way you handled experiences in life
and the lesson you learned from them,
and less to do with how many
birthdays you've celebrated.
I've learned _
that you should never tell a child
their dreams are unlikely or outlandish.
Few things are more humiliating, and
what a tragedy it would be
if they believed it.
I've learned —
that family doesn't always mean biological.
Sometimes people you aren't related to
can care and love you so much they
teach you to trust people all over again.
I've learned —
that no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you
every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.
I've learned —
that it isn't always enough
to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn
to forgive yourself.
I've learned —
that no matter how bad
your heart is broken
the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I've learned —
that our background and circumstances
may have influenced who we are,
but we are responsible for who we become.
I've learned —
that sometimes when my friends fight,
I'm forced to choose sides
even when I don't want to.
I've learned —
that just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other
And just because they don't argue,
it doesn't mean they do.
I've learned —
that sometimes you have to put
the individual ahead of their actions.
I've learned —
that we don't have to change friends
if we understand that friends change.
I've learned —
that you shouldn't be so
eager to find out a secret.
It could change your life forever.
I've learned —
that two people can look
at the exact same thing
and see something totally different.
I've learned —
that no matter how you try to protect
your children, they will eventually get hurt
and you will hurt in the process.
I've learned —
that there are many ways of falling
and staying in love.
I've learned —
that no matter the consequences,
those who are honest with themselves
get farther in life.
I've learned —
that no matter how many friends you have,
if you are their pillar you will feel lonely
and lost at the times you need them most.
I've learned —
that your life can be changed
in a matter of hours
by people who don't even know you.
I've learned —
that even when you think
you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you,
you will find the strength to help.
I've learned —
that writing, as well as talking,
can ease emotional pains.
I've learned —
that credentials on the wall
do not make you a decent human being.
I've learned —
that the people you care most about in life
are taken from you too soon.
I've learned —
that although the word "love"
can have many different meanings,
it loses value when overly used.
I've learned —
that it's hard to determine
where to draw the line
between being nice and
not hurting people's feelings
and standing up for what you believe.
I've learned —
the feet you step on today
may be attached to the hand you'll be
kissing tomorrow.
And..... I'm still learning.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I'm Still Learning
I've learned —
that you cannot make someone love you.
All you can do is be someone who can be loved.
The rest is up to them.
I've learned —
that no matter how much I care,
some people just don't care back.
I've learned —
that it takes years to build up trust,
and only seconds to destroy it.
I've learned —
that it's not what you have in your life
but who you have in your life that counts.
I've learned —
that you can get by on charm
for about fifteen minutes.
After that, you'd better know something.
I've learned —
that you shouldn't compare
yourself to the best others can do
but to the best you can do.
I've learned —
that it's not what happens to people
that's important. It's what they do about it.
I've learned —
that you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.
I've learned —
that no matter how thin you slice it,
there are always two sides.
I've learned —
that it's taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.
I've learned —
that it's a lot easier
to react than it is to think.
I've learned —
that you should always leave
loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.
I've learned —
that you can keep going
long after you think you can't.
I've learned —
that we are responsible for what we do,
no matter how we feel.
I've learned —
that either you control your attitude
or it controls you.
I've learned —
that regardless of how hot and steamy
a relationship is at first, the passion fades,
and there had better be
something else to take its place.
I've learned —
that heroes are the people
who do what has to be done
when it needs to be done,
regardless of the consequences.
I've learned —
that learning to forgive takes practice.
Yet it is always worth the work.
I've learned —
that there are people who love you dearly,
but just don't know how to show it.
And, never bother to learn
I've learned —
that money is a lousy way of keeping score,
and an even poorer way of showing love.
I've learned —
that my best friend and I can do anything
or nothing and have the best time.
I've learned —
that sometimes the people you expect
to kick you when you're down
will be the ones to help you get back up.
I've learned —
that sometimes when I'm angry
I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me
the right to be cruel.
I've learned —
that true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance...
and so does true love.
I've learned —
that just because someone doesn't love you
the way you want them to, doesn't mean
they don't love you with all they have.
I've learned —
that maturity has more to do with
the way you handled experiences in life
and the lesson you learned from them,
and less to do with how many
birthdays you've celebrated.
I've learned _
that you should never tell a child
their dreams are unlikely or outlandish.
Few things are more humiliating, and
what a tragedy it would be
if they believed it.
I've learned —
that family doesn't always mean biological.
Sometimes people you aren't related to
can care and love you so much they
teach you to trust people all over again.
I've learned —
that no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you
every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.
I've learned —
that it isn't always enough
to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn
to forgive yourself.
I've learned —
that no matter how bad
your heart is broken
the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I've learned —
that our background and circumstances
may have influenced who we are,
but we are responsible for who we become.
I've learned —
that sometimes when my friends fight,
I'm forced to choose sides
even when I don't want to.
I've learned —
that just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other
And just because they don't argue,
it doesn't mean they do.
I've learned —
that sometimes you have to put
the individual ahead of their actions.
I've learned —
that we don't have to change friends
if we understand that friends change.
I've learned —
that you shouldn't be so
eager to find out a secret.
It could change your life forever.
I've learned —
that two people can look
at the exact same thing
and see something totally different.
I've learned —
that no matter how you try to protect
your children, they will eventually get hurt
and you will hurt in the process.
I've learned —
that there are many ways of falling
and staying in love.
I've learned —
that no matter the consequences,
those who are honest with themselves
get farther in life.
I've learned —
that no matter how many friends you have,
if you are their pillar you will feel lonely
and lost at the times you need them most.
I've learned —
that your life can be changed
in a matter of hours
by people who don't even know you.
I've learned —
that even when you think
you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you,
you will find the strength to help.
I've learned —
that writing, as well as talking,
can ease emotional pains.
I've learned —
that credentials on the wall
do not make you a decent human being.
I've learned —
that the people you care most about in life
are taken from you too soon.
I've learned —
that although the word "love"
can have many different meanings,
it loses value when overly used.
I've learned —
that it's hard to determine
where to draw the line
between being nice and
not hurting people's feelings
and standing up for what you believe.
I've learned —
the feet you step on today
may be attached to the hand you'll be
kissing tomorrow.
And..... I'm still learning.
Disclosure: Much of what is in my posts are things I have compiled through the years and I do not know if they have copyrights. What I do know about origin or website I give credit and have tried to always post a link to the origin. I do not market anything in any way on this blog -- I merely hope it will encourage and inspire others.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2 comments:
Hi there,
growing in the Lord is a process, and sharing our experiences is important. I remember long ago asking the Lord to teach me patience. I had looked up the meaning of the word in my dictionary and it said 'the ability to endure with calmness.' I had only been able to endure gritting my teeth up to then. Within a very short time I worked as a care worker in a home for the elderly. I could not have been sent to a better place to learn true 'patience'.
Oh Wow - Brenda - you're speaking straight to my heart -- I was young but now and am old and have not seen the righteous forsaken (Psalm 37:25).
I used to be a home health care worker as well -- now I pray for grace to received the kind and generous helping hands of others as I see the winter of life quickly approaching and my need for other's increasing daily.
PATIENCE for sure (especially toward myself in being able to admit some things I can no longer do - and by allowing others to help their inner being gets to grow in many ways too and as they come I desire my Witness and Testimony to be a blessing to them.
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