a letter to my sixteen year old self

Did you know? Emily Freeman released a sister … or should I say daughter companion for her Grace For the Good Girl book. It’s called Graceful, and it’s lovely.

In honor of it’s release and all the things our young-girl selves are faced with, Emily’s challenged us to write a letter to our teenage selves. You know, knowing what we know today, what would we tell our mall-hair-leg-warmer-wham-loving selves? She’s hosting a link-up and there’s all kinds of fun to be had over there!

So this is me … writing to my 16 year old self.

Sweet girl,

You need to know … you are enough. And there’s a man that loves you more than any boy or man ever will … His name is Jesus. Do you know, if you could just grasp that now it would save you a whole lotta pain!

But I suppose no. You are a stubborn one, aren’t you? You do like to find things out yourself. Experience it yourself. Fail, or not fail, on your own accord and by your own will.

You’ll learn a lot because of that will. You’ll learn good things and you’ll learn bad things. What to do, and what not to do.

You want so desperately to be liked. So desperately to fit in. You’re not popular. You’re not smart.

But you are enough. In all the awkwardness and angst of your teenage-self … please know you are enough.

 

me & my high school bestie!

You really should pay more attention to your schooling, homework, and education. Yes, I get it … all you dream of being is a hairstylist, and you don’t think school really matters. But guess what? It kinda does. And yes, you will go on to be a hairstylist. But guess what? It won’t be all you thought it would be and eventually you’ll go on to do something else. In fact, you’ll go on to do lots of something else’s.

Oh and sweet girl, for the love of God would you listen to your momma and marry a boy who loves Jesus? Although, you’re not walking in His love, so how are you to know how important this life detail really is?

And little girl … don’t be in such a hurry to get married. You still have a lot of growing up to do. You’ve got issues girl, that need to be worked out.

But if you don’t listen, and you do go ahead and marry your high school sweetheart and best friend … and if that marriage doesn’t work out … know that you’ll get one of God’s greatest gifts from that relationship, your precious babygirl Taylor Rio. And that girl will go on to amaze you with her courage, strength, grace, love for the Lord, stubbornness, and her own strong will … every.single.day!

Oh! and when she’s young, she may not care for the whole mom-and-dad-were-children-of-the-80’s-and-your-middle-name-is-from-a-duran-duran-song-her-name-is-rio, but trust me, she’ll dig it when she gets a little older.

Tracie, please believe me … you are enough.

You’ll go on to do things you’ve never dreamed of. You’ll get your pilot’s license. You’ll own a business … two of them! You’ll be a photographer. You’ll be a writer … you’ll even have your very own author’s page! You’ll go on to accomplish much of whatever you set your heart and mind on.

You will also walk through valley’s of pain. Valley’s so deep … so wide … so painful that at times, you think it might kill you. But sweet girl, by then you’ll have found a Savior that loves you deeper and wider than any valley you’ll walk through. And you will lean on Him like your life depends on it … because it does.

And you will get through. You’ll get through it all. With grace, faith, love, and forgiveness … you’ll get through it all.

Your battles, your courage, your faith, and your strength will encourage and inspire others who watch you … most importantly your children. You’ll have four girls. Four.

Close your mouth … yes, you! The one who doesn’t babysit because you don’t like kids! You’ll be the blessed mommy to four beautiful girls. And they will love Jesus. And you will love those girls ’til the end of the world. They will exhaust you, and frustrate you, and you’ll wonder if you’re doing it right. But they’ll hug you, and love on you, and tell you you’re the best … and you’ll go to bed thanking God for the blessing of those little ladies.

Tracie … at 16, you think this is it, this is life and there ain’t no more to it … but sweet girl, your life hasn’t even begun. I promise you from the depths of my soul, what God has in store for you, hasn’t even begun.

He will go on to show you, all the days of your life, you … sweet girl … are enough.

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