1 Timothy 4:12-15

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 1 Timothy 4:12-15

Caleb turns 18 next week.  He will officially be an adult.  With adulthood comes serious responsibilities that require maturity, like signing up for the draft (boys) and registering to vote. But with age, maturity doesn’t just appear the day you wake up as an eighteen year old.  Life lessons (and your godly reactions to them) give you the fruitful growth desired by God, which is actually true maturity.

This fall, Caleb’s progress has been evident.  Has he had hiccups? Yes.  We are all working together on guarding our tongues. But while he’s had to deal with injustice in the area of sports, he’s learning how to handle it like a godly mature adult.  Progress in other areas of his spiritual life has also been evident, through his leadership in FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) that the kids attend each Wednesday morning before school, through his diligence in reading the Bible, praying, and also through discussions we have had with him after church services and Sunday school. 

I pray that God continues to guide him, build him up in his faith, and bless him; and that he will have a very enjoyable 18th birthday.