Today's society seems to be infatuated with any and everything that is instant or condensed. The 140 character Twitter message. The 30 second YouTube clip. Drive through coffee shops. So much of our world today is built around this type of quick, instant gratification, but we have to keep in mind that many of the most important things in life don’t give us immediate enjoyment and pleasure. Some things, especially things of value, take time to be developed and have to be nurtured and cared for over an extended period of time before we receive the pay off.
The further I go in life, the more I realize that the things that really matter and have real value are the things that require patience and the investment of time and effort. The trust I have with my wife. The guidance I give my children. The relationship I have with my friends. None of these things were created with the snap of a finger. They all take time and they are all tremendously valuable.
Manhood is developed the same way as those previous examples. It’s a lifelong, concentrated
effort that can only be achieved through a daily commitment over a period of time to be the best you that you can be. Being a man doesn’t magically happen at the age of 18. For some men it may happen earlier. For some, sadly it may be far later in life that they develop the characteristics of a man. In either case, it’s not something that happens with the blink of an eye or with the change of a single date on the calendar. Only by demonstrating consistent positive character through life’s experiences can manhood be brought to fruition.