Dear Me... A Letter to My Teenage Self

Hey girl...

It's me. You, almost 30 years later.

You're 15 and have just had your entire world turned upside down.

Mom and Dad are divorced, both have remarried, 

and you have left everyone and everything 

you have ever known to live in Florida.

All within this last year.

Your heart is broken in tiny pieces right now 

and you believe that your life will never be the same.

I so wish that I could hold your hand and tell you that everything will be ok. 

I would hug you while you cried it out feeling so alone. 

I would tell you that you aren't alone...He is with you. 

And even though things will be so tough for you in the next few years, 

He will bring you through it all.

About Dad...

Your heart broke the day he left and will shatter again many times over the next 30 years. You will spend many moments wondering why and how and - worst of all - these questions will cause you to doubt your worth for many years.

One day you will read this verse and be undone...

Others were given in exchange for you.
I traded their lives for yours
because you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you. 
Isaiah 43:4

You will realize that you are precious, honored, and loved beyond imagination 

by our Abba that gave everything in exchange for you.

About Mom...

Things are rocky with you all right now. You are lost, but she will never stop reaching out to you. She will fiercely fight for your heart and remind you constantly just how much she loves you. There are going to be times you can't hear her. Times you don't want to hear her. But you will remember everything even when she doesn't.

You will learn how to love a child unconditionally through her actions during this time. She will help to shape the mother you are to become years from now.
She will be your best friend.

About friends...

One of the hardest things you had to do this year was leave behind your best friends. The three of you were inseparable, spending every possible moment together. You have stood on a bed and sung Prince songs at the top of your lungs with them. You have spent many a sleepover night laughing so hard your face and stomach hurt. You have gone to parties and dances with them. You have walked just down the road to your second home so many times. They have cheered you on and wiped your tears. You tell them everything. They know you best. And you can't imagine life without seeing them every day.

You will flow in and out of each others lives over the years, but you are all still friends.

Even from a distance and over many years, God has knit your hearts together. 

They will be your forever friends.

But God didn't stop there. He blesses you with many special people that will come into your life. Some of those friends will be forever and some will only be for a season, but all will touch your heart.

About love...

You have trouble believing that anyone could love you right now. You will start a journey this year searching for someone to fill that space in your heart. It won't be until years later that you will meet the love of your life. 

You will only date for six months before getting married. Crazy I know. 

This is you on your wedding day.

He will show you what love looks like and what it means to be cherished. 

You will walk through tough times and celebrate the wonderful times together.

This is him saying his vows to you on your wedding day.

But God didn't stop there. He also gave you beautiful baby boys. 

Three of them. You will love them the moment they enter the world and your heart will burst the first time you hold each of them in your arms.

Here they are as tinies.

You will be a wife and a mom.

You will have a family.

Here are the men in your life today.

I guess most of all, sweet girl, I want you to know that you are so loved and never alone. I want you to know that one of the best things to ever happen to you won't be about marriage, motherhood, or a career. There will be a moment when you meet Jesus again. I know you grew up in church and got saved at a young age. 

This isn't about your salvation, but about a relationship.

This time will be different and will rock your world. You will surrender to Him and begin a love affair with Him that will change everything. No it won't be easy all the time, but I promise you that it will be easier walking with Him than all those years you walked without Him.

You are still a work in progress girl.

But along the way He has put all those broken pieces of your heart back together. You still have some scars, but even those have become beautiful through Him.

You have a story. What you will come to realize is that your story is actually His story. A story of overflowing love, never-ending grace, and sweet redemption.

Be brave sweet girl.

Love,

Me

I am joining Emily Freeman and friends in writing letters to our teenage selves. 

We are celebrating the release of Emily's newest book - Graceful.