Dear senior-in-high-school, just trying to make it out of Madison, 17-year-old Stephanie::
You’ve just returned from six months in Costa Rica, you are struggling with adjusting to life in Madison, and you are bitter. You want nothing to do with missions or whatever else God has in “His Will” for you…Good luck with that. You will be broken and dragged back to the foot of the cross by an amazing community and healing will begin in the darkest hour.
You're still arguing with your mom, in typical teenage fashion, but don't. She loves you more than anyone on the face of the Earth and eventually you'll realize just how strong that bond is.
You’re going to get in a fight with your best friend. You aren’t going to speak for years… you’re going to forget what the fight was about and you’re going to reconnect over coffee. You will cry on the day you miss her wedding. You will realize how important forgiveness and friendships are and you will stop cutting people out of your life.
You're not sure what you want to do after high school and you’re going to threaten your parents (more than once) with going to community college and working at the skate park forever. Stop it! They aren’t trying to control you; they just want what’s best for you. They are pushing you to challenge yourself.
Speaking of College… You'll go to a state school and you'll change your major…three times! You’ll have amazing mentors and advisers and they will help you navigate the journey of graduation. They will believe in your crazy made up major and will encourage you to travel. Thank them often!
You’re going to set five goals after graduation. You’re going to fail at LITERALLY every single one of them. But don’t become discouraged. What He has planned for you is so much better than anything you can imagine right now! You’re not going to work a 9-5…at least not for the first three years out of college. Please never become content or satisfied with life. Always strive for more. Take time to value each and every accomplishment along the way, but don't stand still for too long.
You’re going to date a few wrong guys. You'll meet a boy and think "this is it!" You'll go on trips. You’ll make plans; in the end they'll be memories and a lesson learned. You'll realize that there's so much more that God has planned for you and you'll have your heartbroken and you'll do your fair share of breaking.
Rather than become jaded, let it empower you to live a different life. Rather than become complacent and pessimistic, let it teach you the magnificence of how much He loves you. Never forget how to be that strong and independent woman that you father taught you to be. (By the way, as I type this I feel like you should know you’re 22 now and you’re not going to go on another date until you’re 24…)
There will be obstacles to overcome and changes to be made, but they'll be good.
You still like making lists, but you’ll stop writing them in sharpie and learn that He has much better penmanship than you do anyway.
So much of the story is left unwritten, but know that you're on the right track. You're going to make so many mistakes along the way but believe me when I say that the outcome is worth it. Every embarrassing moment, every accident and slip-up. They all lead you to a very wonderful place so please do not become overwhelmingly forlorn.
Seek Him in everything you do.
Sincerely, the not-so-high-school- living in Nashville- Stephanie.
p.s. you have an amazing adventure ahead
p.p.s you’re also going to wog a marathon… I know! I can barely believe it myself!
