My teammate LaShon led team time this evening. Her activity was that we each write a letter to ourselves from the past, offering closure or wisdom and a different perspective that we’ve acquired now to us at that time. I’ve been blessed with a very guarded life. I couldn’t think of a particularly traumatic experience to write “peace” to, or a moment of outstanding sorrow or folly to which I’d express insight. So, I just wrote to 14 year old me. I didn’t realize how much I would need to hear what I had to say. (haha) So I’m sharing it.
…………..
Dear Self,
Sweet 14-year-old self. On this 14th day of March, 2014, I write to you.
You are beautiful. And smart. And, it is actually quite spectacular that people point out the latter more often.
Though friends might seem few and far between at the moment, your friend department will become greatly full and blessed. Full of people that will laugh with you, appreciate your verbosity, and sharpen you like none other.
Your spirituality is not too much. In fact, your thirst for God becomes more unquenchable.
Reading Proverbs everyday now is a fantastic life choice. It completely pours into the wisdom that you will walk in and pour out. People will commend you for this.
Peers say that they respect you. Don’t be embarrassed by this – cherish it. Set an example for others, but do so in a gracious and humble way. Allow this to mark your life.
Romans 12:12 is your life verse. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, constant in prayer.”
This walk of righteousness is not always (or even often) easy, but it IS always worth it.
I love you.
From my heart,
Erika Venese Wynne
(and you still really love your middle name even though you don’t know what it means.)
