Dear Younger Me

There’s a song called Dear Younger Me.  It’s written from the perspective of an, ahem, ‘older’ person who wishes he could go back in time and give his younger self some bits of wisdom.

The song is positive and inspirational.  It includes lyrics like “you are holy, you are righteous, you are one of the redeemed…” And, on my better days, I agree with it.  Certainly, my younger self could have used a good dose of encouragement. 

But on other days, I am pretty sure if I could tell my younger self something, it would be more like: "STOP!!!!  Stop goofing off!!  Get your head out of your ass and take life more seriously!!  Make positive connections. Accomplish something. Do you understand that people you love are going to die?!?  People will betray you. Some of your friends are going to lose their children. Some are going to watch their family member suffer with incurable illnesses that take their ability to walk or eat. Your own family is going to be emotionally ripped apart by disaster.  Just get real, girl!"

I know it’s a cliché and you probably think you have all the time in the world, but I’m telling you, it’s true: Time flies.  Before you know it, you will be reaping the harvest (consequences) of whatever it is you are planting now.  Even with your best efforts, life is a tough garden.

Plant carefully.

Walk away from the crap!!  No- run!  Leave the liars, users, abusers and cheaters behind.  Most of them won’t change.  The ones who do will take years, no decades, leaving a trail of relational destruction in their path. They won’t be there for you when you hit hard times. Love them from a distance, and get about the Lord’s business in the meantime. This isn’t a game.  It’s not a dress rehearsal. 

Love hard and love smart.

Make good plans and work toward them.

Be flexible, because unexpected changes can and do happen.

Do better. 

Be better.

Your future self is counting on it.
 
Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Ephesians 5: 15-16 

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 
Song credit: MercyMe
Photo credit: pixabay.com  

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