December 31, 1976
Dear Diary,
My best friend and I have had a colossal fight and I don't think we'll ever be friends again.
What felt like the end of the world that turbulent night was filled with God's blessings in so many ways. But only as I matured both as a person and a Christian would I recognize and understand it. From that agonizing phase of my young teenage life, I can now say:
Dear Younger Self,
You're still learning. The world is a hard place for soft hearts like yours. But, keep it soft no matter what.
Hold on to your values but be flexible. You were taught by loving parents who set you on a path with Jesus at your side. No matter what the world accepts, your principles and moral values must remain your guardrails. Pray for those in your life who are faltering. Extend your hand to those who are lost.
Dark Seasons will always end; you've been through them time and time again. Even though the painful times will sting and you'll feel hopeless and alone, remember that the One you can turn to is always right there with you.
Cling to Jesus and cry when it feels comforting. Tears have a way of washing away the hard times and purging our hearts of the soreness and ache. Losses will occur; more and more the older you get. But, in those losses grow sweet memories that are best cherished and nurtured with our loving God close by.
Not everyone will love you; accept it and extend grace both to yourself and others. You are genuine and compassionate but that isn't always a ticket to happiness. Often, your faulty expectations of others will lead to disappointment. But the One who loves you most is the only One you need worry about.
Close friends will abandon you; remain loyal. A thought expressed wrongly, an oversight, a lapse of judgement, or any kind of faux pas may challenge a loving friendship. Even at the times when you wrack your brain to find answers and cannot understand what happened, remember that God's plan is at work. Don't lose faith in a lost friendship but hold it dear in your heart, even if that's the only place left for it. Do your utmost to love your neighbour, even if they've turned their back on you.
Above all, remember to pray first, pray last, and pray in between. Jesus wants you close to Him and in constant contact. Whether life is rich with happiness or stormy with turbulent times, remember you are abundantly blessed as a member of God's Kingdom and beloved no matter what.
In Him who loved us first,
Your Older Self
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Peggianne Wright is a published author and is the founder of the pet parent ministry Paws To Pray, blending her passion for the Lord and all-things-K9 to form this unique, faith-based community. Peggianne is an ardent Bible study student, devoted dog mom, wife of 44 years, and lover of music. Her blogs Spiritual Scribbles and Fur-Kid Fanatics can be found on her website www.PawsToPray.ca
You can follow her on Facebook
www.Facebook.com/PawsToPray/ and on Instagram www.instagram.com/sister_in_prayer/
Thank you, Peggianne, for sharing your tender heart towards your younger self. How wonderful to know that God takes those difficult times and heals us with his love and presence.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words Lorrie.
DeleteThank you, Peggianne. What a lovely glimpse into your younger self as you share those hard earned words of wisdom learned as you walked with the Lord through the years. I love the gentleness of your words.
ReplyDeleteThank Brenda.
Deletelovely
ReplyDeleteThank you Tracy.
Delete"Dark seasons will always end." I believe this is such an important insight to share with youth.
ReplyDeleteMost certainly with youth. Often it's only after experiencing them do we truly understand. We need to find ways to encourage and assure them, especially in these troubling times.
DeleteThe best friend I spoke of took her own life a few years later and that has stayed with me for decades.
Dear Peggianne, you could have been writing about me. Thank you for such honest words and heart. I heard your soul.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words. I'm glad you found mine meaningful in some way.
DeleteThank you for your post, Peggianne. Loved it all but particularly the last paragraph. “Above all, remember to pray first, pray last, and pray in between. Jesus wants you close to Him and in constant contact. Whether life is rich with happiness or stormy with turbulent times, remember you are abundantly blessed as a member of God's Kingdom and beloved no matter what.” Amen
ReplyDelete