A heavy storm pounds your windshield as you try and make the next kid pick up, meeting or drop off.  You honestly don’t even remember.  The wipers do their best to keep up with the large dollops of rain, but they are no match.  You just need to see ahead to the next car and maybe, hopefully, the yellow and white lines that act as suggested guardrails at your sides. 

It is so easy to focus on the rain and what you are doing to dodge the storm that you forget about the purpose and gift of rain.  ...

In our house we have learned (many times the hard way) that privileges do not come with age, they come with maturity.

Since when did passing time become a standard by which we are ready for things in life?  I don’t care how much time passes there are many things I will never be equipped for simply because more days are in my rearview.  

Maturity, on the other hand, is a much better predictor of success, although never fool proof.  But it does require truly being a part of a child or youn...