Dear 16 Year Old Me,

Have you ever thought about what you would say if you could write a letter or give advice to your 16 year old self?  I've been thinking about that version of me all afternoon actually.  Two different ways to write this letter to myself came to mind and it really made me reflect on the last several years of my life.  One could be a letter of warning, written with a twinge of bitterness that you thought was gone, but was obscurely hidden like Waldo.  It might go something like this...

                                                                                               17 April, 2012  
     Dear 16 year old me,
  
     Here's a few things to watch out for.  
Don't date the first guy that asks you out.  He's gonna think you're not good enough for him and tell you that you've gained weight.  You think you you're self-conscious now...ha!  Just wait. 

Oh and when you do find the right guy and get engaged, don't take those birth control pills.  It may seem like the easiest way now, but you're almost gonna die and be in the hospital for a week with a mountain of Dr's bills and continued health concerns for the rest of your life.   

I know everything seems peachy right now.  All you have to worry about is basketball and school.  You're sweet and slightly naive, blindly trusting everyone because surely everybody is just as nice as you are.  You gotta get some thick skin though!  People are mean, irresponsible, and say hurtful things, so just go ahead and put up a wall and don't let your guard down.   

Hope this helps,

A




But then I got to thinking.  If everything happens for a reason, and God works for the good of those who love Him, there has to be a purpose and we have to choose to trust Him and find the positive even when it's hard and we don't want to!  So here's the second letter I came up with.  It could still have a cautionary theme but would also be encouraging.



                                                                                        17 April, 2012
Dear 16 year old me,
I wanted to write you a letter to encourage you!  You are beautiful, even when you don't feel like it sometimes.  Don't worry that there aren't any boys interested in you right now...you're gonna get the best of them in a few years and trust me, the wait is worth it!  Yes there will be one in your future who does not value you and will hurt you deeply.  It will feel as if your world is falling apart, but don't lose hope.  You will soon see that if you did not go through the pain of rejection and a love lost, you won't be able to truly treasure every moment that your husband tells you that you are beautiful to him!  That you are his world!  And how very thankful he is that God put you two together.  Nothing can replace the feeling you will have every time he holds your hand or gives you a big at the end of a long day!  Just be patient!


And yes, you will experience heartache from those birth control pills you took.  You will wonder why it had to be you, and why God would allow you to go through something so awful for a 21 year old to have to endure.  But don't worry.  There will be thousands of people praying for you!  And that horrid blood clot condition that you find out about...be thankful.  Because it is so much better that you find out through this trial, than to possibly go through a life-threatening pregnancy or lose several babies and have no earthly idea what the problem is.  God always has a plan and a purpose even when his methods and ideas don't seem like the best.  He will get you through anything.


You are going to need tough skin because that handsome man you married is going to be an Army Officer and baby, being a military wife ain't easy!  (It's also rubbed off on you to use a 24 hour clock and write the date weird like that!)  Not everyone is nice and there will be people who are mean and uncaring, but there is a difference between growing thick skin and having a hardened, bitter heart.   You do need to be careful who you trust, but don't let your skepticism put up a wall and keep everyone out.  You can be your sweet, caring self that loves to help other people and still have discernment. 


God's will can be a pure mystery most of the time, but never stop putting your faith in Him.  Be outgoing.  Make new friends!  Show God's love to everyone!  And remember when you're feeling down in the dumps, every Kari Jobe song will cheer you up instantly! :) 


Love,
Amanda

P.S.  Find a computer geek and a lawyer and come up with the idea for Pinterest!  Also, you have smart-phones to look forward to - Angry Birds is the bomb!