How many yesterdays are you dragging around with you?
Such weighty invisibles … slowing us down, holding us back. If I’m looking in the rear view mirror, how can I be aware of what’s happening up ahead? How can I be prepared for the future if I’m mired in the past?
The question that has lingered with me all weekend is this: What would I tell my younger self?
Oh, so many things.
- People aren’t always trustworthy … but they are worth loving just the same.
- God isn’t understandable … but he’s faithful and he loves you, loves you, loves you in an immensely unfathomable way.
- Forgive yourself … and in those moments when you can’t, throw yourself into the depths of God’s lavish grace and mercy and drown.
- Failure can be a good thing. Go ahead, don’t believe me now. You’re young. You’re allowed to doubt. But when you’re older, make sure you come back and tell me, “You were right.” And I won’t say, “I told you so.”
In Your Words: What would you tell your younger self?
What would you tell your younger self? Click to Tweet
“Finish each day and be done with it.” Click to Tweet
Comments 21
Great topic! I would encourage my younger self–and anyone–to pray more, especially to see if it’s God sparking a dream and if so, don’t put yourself last or wait until nearly everything or everyone accomplishes what they want. But, that it’s necessary to hunker down and be patient. And, although it’s human to do so, put aside the comparison of others to yourself. You are what you are and when you are because God has made you a unique individual… and that’s very okay!
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Lots of “older is wiser” words here, Elaine. Watching for God sparking a dream inside … and not letting comparison douse it.
Oh, so many, many things I’d tell my younger self. But “God’s mercies are new every morning” are words for which I’m thankful in this season of my life. Maybe I wouldn’t have spent so much time looking back if I’d embraced these words sooner.
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Roxanne:
It’s the looking back that’s tripped me up quite often — and the looking over and comparing myself to someone else too.
I would tell my younger self to stay in His Word. Let it become ingrained in me. Live it. Breathe it. Devour it. Do that and it will save you a passel of trouble.
Oh, and Anna Becoming has a new post! http://annabecoming.blogspot.com/2014/02/come-fly-with-me.html
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I’m all for staying out of a passel of trouble, Pat.
And yes, the Word is all the more precious to me as the years pass.
Nice post to start the week, Beth!
What would I say?
Trustworthiness wears a globe and anchor on its uniform.
There are things worth dying for, and there are things worth killing for.
Success is measured by the depth of your compassion, and honor by loneliness.
God disposes. You don’t. Deal with it.
And, Younger Self…I love what you are, and what you’ll be.
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I’ve read your comment twice, Andrew.
And I shall let it stand with a profound “Amen to that, my friend. Amen to all of that.”
We’re seeing great examples of this at the Olympics. Because conditions are tough, some competitors make mistakes but still win, and deserve to and we celebrate them. That’s a great analogy for daily life conditions–for maybe being more understanding of adverse circumstances, like more heavy snow dumping right now, and recognizing and celebrating every step forward.
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Great insight, Dee!
It’s interesting, as I pondered your opening question I couldn’t think of one thing that I’m dragging around from yesterday. My issue seems more like anticipating so much the things to come that sometimes I let today slip by into yesterday without celebrating the small things. Those joys and blessings that aren’t huge, but add up to a life of gratitude and thankfulness. I’m working on that. 🙂
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Donna:
You couldn’t think of one thin you’re dragging around from yesterday.
Enough said.
You are my hero.
My younger self?
You are important.
Don’t listen to them.
If they don’t call you after a few days, if they don’t make an effort? THEY are not worth YOURS.
You are funny. You are fun to be with. But, don’t burn out your loyalty on twits who think you’re only worth a laugh.
Any yes, you were skinny when you thought you weren’t!!
Oh, and DO NOT GET ON THAT HORSE!!!!
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Amen to every single one of those things you shared.
You are brilliant!
Proverbs 24:16 says, “For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again.” (NASB) I’ve always believed that failure is success in disguise. Proverbs acknowledges that failure or falling is a given. With God’s help I can rise to try, try again.
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“I’ve always believed that failure is success in disguise.”
May I quote you?
Great Quote, Beth!
What I would tell my younger self:
*Pleasing others is a means to an end. Pleasing God is a means to a beginning.
*Guilt is wasted if it doesn’t move you forward to change.
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Michelle:
Pleasing God is a means to a beginning.
Such life-giving truth.
Beth,
Thanks for always sharing your heart with us. You make it easy to open up, especially on days (like today) when I feel like tucking inside my shell like a scared little turtle.
If I could tell my younger self something that would make her feel more free, it would be to not worry so much about what other people think and just be herself. It’s taken me many years to break free from the chains of wanting to please people, and I know I’ve still got a ways to go. (Hey, knowing is half the battle, right?) There’s a wind-in-your-hair freedom in trusting God to create in you the person He wants you to be… and not caring what other people think of that person. I so wish I could have figured that out years sooner than I have. Hopefully some of your readers will learn from my hard lesson.
Blessings,
Andrea
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“There’s a wind-in-your-hair freedom in trusting God to create in you the person He wants you to be…”
Love this. Absolutely love this, Andrea.
Love you too!
Beth, thank you. Your sweet words touch my heart.