..... I can remember finding out I was pregnant with Lexi. Years and years and years of infertility, treatments, surgeries.... giving up hope and then handing it to God... and in that moment: Pregnant. One of the most joyous days of my life: Your pregnancy test came back positive!
In that one moment, every hope and dream I had for my "children" came rushing forward. Things I wanted my children to experience, see, enjoy and learn about.... Protection, what and how to protect them from the world and its cruelties. The desire to protect and be able to take away pain, illness, and sadness.....
Every parent tells their children: these are my hopes and dreams for you and your life.
We all give them examples, try to set them on the right path, teach them to be a better person, than we ourselves have been. Our shortcomings, we want rectified in our children. Our bad decisions, why we will plead with them to walk the more narrow path. When we see their gifts, oh we encourage it, we will go to great lengths to see them shine!
And yet... yet, there are things we can't keep them from experiencing. Things that hurt them. Things that scare them; things they should never see; things you hope they never hear....
And so, these things, can be made into blessings. For I can't keep you from experiencing life, but I can give you the tools and point you to the One who can help you through each moment.
So... let me give you some input as to what I can't shield you from..... and hopefully some insight.
- Gossip: At some point, someone is going to talk about you behind your back - and... well, it might be someone that you really like and/or care for. It will hurt. You will feel attacked and may even want to lash out at them.....
My advise: Don't repay them with gossip. Confront that person directly, alone and in a calm manner. Let it roll off your back as best as you can. Whether you are in 4th grade or 12th grade, it never gets any easier and it always stings. Don't let it define you. Let God. - Broken Heart: First loves can be hard to get over... so can that crush you have had for a long, long time. There will be that person who leaves your heart shattered - feeling as though you can't go on without him or her. How can you ever bear to see this person love someone else?
My advise: It happens. Let yourself go through the motions of grief. Yes, grief. You will be angry, hurt, depressed, even. You might find hope in a second or third chance. And... you may get that chance. But you might not. Allow your heart to heal before you seek another relationship and talk to someone you can trust.... even though it feels like no one has ever been as hurt as badly as you are now..... trust me... we all have. - Bullying: This is one of the toughest things to deal with. This can cause such a deep hopelessness in your life.... there are several forms of bullying, of course. Most of the time, we think of people who have been hurt physically: shoved into a locker, getting beat up and pushed around.... But there are other forms of bullying... being excluded, neglected.... being gossiped about.... having people talk about you on the internet..... spreading lies.....
Whatever form of bullying you may or might be experiencing, remember this. THERE IS HELP. Any adult, worth their salt, is going to see this as a real problem; no matter what form.
You have to get some help. It may call for a group intervention, a counselor stepping in and contacting the other parent(s).... don't let this go undealt with. Bullying in any form can cause such a deep hurt that sometimes people, especially you young people, may only see suicide as the answer, or may take to cutting yourselves. Trust me... this, too, shall pass. There are brighter days ahead. There are new friends to be found. There is healing and there is hope. - Rumors: This somewhat falls under the category of gossip, but it is different. Have you ever heard about a person at school, church, or elsewhere who has done something wrong or bad? Is so-and-so a backstabber or is that one a liar? I'm sure you've heard it before. If there are girls or gals being talked about and stories flitting about... it's only a matter of time before you are the center of such a rumor.
My advise: Never believe something negative about another without experiencing it or seeing it with your own eyes. And even if you do believe it, don't be a party to spreading it around. Rumors are just an extension of gossip. And it hurts to be the one who the rumor is about. If you don't want someone talking negatively about you, then don't partake of it with another. - Bad choices: I think this is the one I wish I could protect you from the most. The consequences of your bad choices. We all make them; we all regret them. And... part of it, is having to deal with them. If you choose to drink alcohol and get drunk... you also take the chance of having sex with someone you don't love; you take the chance of getting pregnant or getting someone pregnant.... you take the chance of contracting an STD. You also take the chance of getting behind the wheel of a car and driving. You could kill yourself, a friend, or a stranger. In just a few years from each other, I lost a friend who rode with her drunk boyfriend; she was killed instantly and then had another person in my school, drive drunk.... and he killed a man who had just found out his wife was pregnant.... 2 lives lost; dozens, including their own - shattered. Not all bad choices will have, or could have such serious consequences... but they do have consequences.
Some learn from them, others dig in farther and end up in a life they wish they had never been in and feel like there is no way out.
My advise: Seek God before making decisions. If you already know it's a wrong decision, chose wisely. Make the better decision, take the higher road; be different. Be bold. Be courageous. Be like Jesus. - Evil: My prayer is you never have to experience it. Evil comes in many forms. Abuse, addiction, rape, neglect, murder, accidents....
... *sigh* but... you will. We live in a fallen world. Ephesians 6:12 tells us, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." Satan is roaming this world, looking to seek and destroy, to take you off the path God has for you. He knows your weaknesses. He knows how to tempt you. He knows how to maim you. To steal your joy. He knows how and who to nudge into your life to hurt you, introduce you to more evil. Satan uses men to murder each other. He is the author of hopelessness.
Oh, my sweet child... you will see evil. You may recognize it for what it is. And if you do, flee. God will always, always ALWAYS give you a way out. And you may not recognize it. But it is there. It will always be lurking around the corner.
My advice: Put on the whole armor of Jesus Christ. Not just part of it, but all of it and be bold. Ephesians 6:13-18, "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints."
When life has you down, look up. Look up to the Savior. Imagine climbing onto His lap and sharing your burdens; let His peace wash over you, and drink from His cup. He is mighty. He has a plan for you. Don't wander from it; stay true to who you are IN Christ Jesus. Not the world. Not your parents. Not your friends. But to Jesus.
I love you.... to the moon and back....
..... to infinity, and beyond.
Mama
