Growing Up Requires Courage

Growing up takes a lot of courage. Not just getting older in age, but in character, maturity, thoughts, etc..

For a baby, the first thing it has to do is get out of mum's womb, where food and water is provided 24/7. There is no need to ask for anything. It does get rather uncomfortable inside towards the 9th month, being big and not enough space, but hey, everything's provided!

Once it decides to move on to bigger space, it has to come out of the womb. From then on, all sorts of challenges and growing situations is presented. Learning to ask for food/milk when it can't communicate in mum's language is a growing and learning process.

Learning to soil nappy and get changed is another part of growing up.

Then, there are solids, crawling, walking, reading, talking, puzzles, settling to sleep...

All these when given the opportunity to develop on their own and with encouragement, can help children to grow up confident and have the courage to meet challenges that come their way when they grow up into adulthood.

Remember reading this somewhere, but cannot remember under what context nor who said it. But this person said that being married to his wife for over 30 years, he cannot remember every meal that his wife cooked. But he knew that every meal that was prepared, cooked and consumed gave his energy and nourishment for his life.

Similarly, our children may not remember all that we've done for them in helping and guiding them to become able adults, but take heart, every little thing that we say or do, impacts their little lives.

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. - Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)