Thursday, September 13, 2012

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.

25 comments:

  1. Wow! This was amazing. God has worked something beautiful out of your heart break. You are such a blessing, and have been so blessed with your four boys. Thanks for being vulnerable and sharing! Such a testimony!

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    1. Thanks so much sweet friend. Your friendship is such a blessing to me.

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  2. wendy, this is simply beautiful! wow!

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  3. That was amazing!! I wish we really could offer our young selves such wisdom.

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    1. Thanks Angie! Oh if only we could go back and tell ourselves a thing or two. But then I wonder how much of my life today would be different because of it. Blessings!

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  4. Oh, I love this. I am also from a divorced home and could relate on so many levels.

    Also I am your newest follower from the weekend blog hop!

    www.1001tears.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks so much! What a blessing to connect with you! Looking forward to getting to know you more!

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  5. I love your story of love & grace, Wendy! You are so right, once we recognize "who we really are", the "things of the past DO grow strangely dim", and we live in the "light of His Glory & Grace!"
    Thank you for sharing this glory & grace so beautifully through your words today.
    &
    Thank you for making me feel so welcome last night as the party began and I arrived as a newcomer. You touched my heart by this action.

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    1. Oh Paula...it's all grace friend. Thank you so much for your sweet words of encouragement. Loved meeting you last night and look forward to getting to know you even more. Blessings!

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  6. Wow. Thanks for sharing a story... similar to many of ours 'out here' I know. Bless you for your transparency! Sweet, sweet brave one! (Here from Christian Mommy Blogger) - glad to be here, too.

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    1. Thank you so much Leslie! So blessed to have you here today. Looking forward to getting to know you. Blessings!

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    1. Thanks so much Denise! Blessings to you as well!

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  8. Wow, this is so sweet. It's truly amazing how God takes such broken things and used them for His glory. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thank you Mackenzie! Yes I believe that He can redeem everything and use it for good. Blessings!

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  9. That was beautiful! I can feel your emotion of reliving those moments. I can remember being that age and feeling confused about many things. I enjoyed reading this. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thank you Laura! Oh how confusing our teenage years were. Even without what I sent through. Blessings!

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  10. Beautiful heartfelt post. I love that quote from Isaiah. Thank you for sharing yourself.

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    1. Thanks so much Donna! It is one of my favorite scriptures. Blessings!

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  11. This is so beautiful! (As I type, brushing away tears.) Thank you so much for sharing yourself in this post. You blessed me this morning! Smiles!

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    1. Oh Amy thank you so much for your sweet words. Such a blessing! I am a hugger, so consider yourself hugged :)

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  12. this is a beautiful letter to yourself. i think these have been some of my favorite posts to read - and write. i felt so much healing when i wrote my own.

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  13. I was afraid of all of the same things you are concerned about today.Drugs, alcohol, casual sex, their academic career, and most importantly, their happiness. I wanted to create an open relationship with my girls where they could feel comfortable coming to me with anything, while I maintain boundaries as well.so if you are want to Connect With Your Teen Daughter just stay with us....

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