What I wish I could have told my teenage self…Blonde hair does not look good on you. Don’t buy those jeans – they will be out of style in a month! Driving fast is not cool. Your mom is not trying to ruin your life – one day she’ll be your best friend. Don’t use foul language, don’t gossip, study hard and get good grades, don’t drink alcohol, don’t do drugs, keep your body to yourself! I could go on for pages!
The biggest piece of advice I wish I could have told my teenage self is… “don’t date him”. And when I say “him” I am referring to whole string of “him’s”. In the 5th grade I dated one of the most popular boys in my grade. I thought I was really special to be lucky enough to be called his girlfriend. This started a string of relationships in my life that I allowed to determine my self-worth (which in case you don’t know – is not a good reason to date someone!)
Each relationship was a stepping stone on a path leading me away from who God had called me to be. I allowed these relationships to define who I was and how others saw me. I wanted to be the life of the party, the girl up for anything, the girl who wouldn’t say no. Looking back it seems so silly… why would those titles be so important to me??? But they were. And all of them came with consequences: Sickness and hangovers, public embarrassment, cheating and abusive boyfriends, a police record, and the loss of my virginity at a young age.
My Pastor once said “God never uses our past against us. When we live for Him He gives us a new present and a new future”. While I know Jesus forgives me, I wish I could have been spared the hurt of what I went through. Each day we are given choices. When I was a teenager I didn’t take time to stop and think about how each choice would change me. I made countless poor decisions that were based on getting attention from boys. What I wish I could have told my teenage self is being a smart, kind, honest woman will get you further in life than being “the pretty girl” will. I was so worried about being desirable or “sexy” that I hid who God made me. I wish I could have told myself being different is good. Being unique is desirable. I wish I could have told myself to believe in who God created me to be.
I wish I could have told myself to live for Jesus. Not just sometimes – but in all times and in all ways. If the God of the Universe was willing to die just for me, why don’t I live like I would die for Him?
God made you exactly the way you are for his purpose and HE has a plan for your life. He is the only “him” you need to worry about.
Renee, 30, USA
