Dear Younger ME

Dear Younger Me,

I have been watching your life from the front row seat and I fear that I have misguided you along the way.  There have been times down this road called life when I wish I could rewind and go back to one of those big milestone moments and whisper in my younger ear: "remember this!"  

....Or perhaps hit pause during those occasions when you meet the people in your life that end up being a wolf in sheep's clothing, and whisper: "this guy will break your heart -its not worth the risk!" ...or "this friend that you think you can trust is gonna let you down."  
...or "hey slow down there is a cop ahead!"  

What I feel like I am learning, in the life I am in now is that, even if I could do that and protect you from every single hurt feeling, illness, bad decision, or broken relationship-I probably wouldn't be the exact person I am now.


Much like it feels to watch a movie with someone who has already seen the ending, it would be annoying to have someone always trying to tell you what happens next when you all really want to do is learn for yourself!  

(Now that I think of it, isn't that what Mom and Dad are for?  Aren't they the ones trying to steer us in a different direction than the road they have traveled? Dang it.)

Do you know what the truth is?  You will always be learning!  There is no moment in your life where you will have a magic key that unlocks all the world's wisdom unto you- with just one quick blow of the birthday candle.

Life is risky!  God is good! Safe? no!  but good!

One thing I would like for you to consider is that all the people you invite into your life-even the not so great ones are building you!  You are the sum total of all those people and all those lessons they bring!

Some people will come into your life and they will cheer for you and love you even when you are being a complete jerk.  They love YOU-not the fake you, the trendy you, the you with the great hair, the fat you, the thin you, or the even the funny you.  Those people are safe!  Those are YOUR people!  They love you-they get you!  Hold on tight to them!

Some people will wound you. They will use you and lie to you to get what they want. They will be prideful and hold you accountable for their own stuff...
OR!  Worse!  You will do these things to others and they will not want you back in their lives.  

These folks might look like a friend, or a family member, a pastor, a boss, or mentor. You will feel so safe with them and then ....boom!  You will learn some big lessons about trust and who you can be yourself around by the way these people treat you and more importantly you will learn the power of grace and forgiveness.  


Try not to ever regret letting people in.  Remember what they leave you with and grow like crazy.

Dust yourself off and keep inviting people into your life!  Ask for advice!  Pray! Listen to what others say even when they don't say anything!  Watch their actions!

You are not and will not ever be perfect. Don't expect others to be either.  Love people the best way you can. Forgive and laugh as much as you can! Do not take yourself so seriously.


Don't define yourself by  the things on earth! Define yourself by what God says about you!

You are Holy..
You are one of the redeemed....
Set a part-a brand new heart!
You are Free indeed!

Every Mountain, every valley, every heartache in between
Every moment brings you closer to who you were meant to be.


Carry on,
Older Me.. (for now)