Top Ten To My Teenage Self

I have enjoyed the ministry of Emily Freeman’s Dear Me.  I’m late for her submission, but here goes. As I finally sit down to non-chalantly toy with the concept, I’m more in the mood for a list than a letter. It might be because it’s Friday night and we’re watching an odd animated movie by a cozy fire.

Or it might be that if I tried to write a full letter, it would never end… and, besides, that’s my Scandalous memoir.

So instead, I thought it’d be fun to combine two ideas: a Top Ten list and a Letter to My Teenage Self. Let’s call it licensed fusion.

Plus, if I’m speedy about it, I can make it more emotionally benign. [Disclaimer over.]

Dear Teenager Suzy,

Listen carefully and let it sink in slowly.

1. Stop thinking you’re less than the other girls.
2.  Your bangs really don’t matter all that much. And by the way, every other teenager has insecurities too.
3.  Say no to all the men – you’re made for someone special. They’re going to start in on you in the 7th grade. Just keep saying no.
4. Hear this: Your body is a temple. Decisions you make now are important about how you give, feed and treat your body. Honor it as the precious gift that it is.
5. Open the bible and read the whole letter to the Ephesians for your self.
   It’s a real letter from a man who was invaded by God. You’ll be absorbing it your whole life.
6. You’re creatively made by a loving God. He’s not about fear; our God is all about love.
7. You’re meant to fulfill a wonderful purpose that’s already alive inside of you. It’s magnificently real and you need to hear it and pursue it with every day you’re given.
8. Your dad adored you just as you were. He didn’t know how to express God’s love because he didn’t know it himself.
9. You’re really smart and fabulous.
10. Think Bigger. Your dreams are real and they’re possible.
    [Addendum]
11. The love you crave will be given you to in a magnificent explosion of pain and joy and truth.

TO MY OWN TEENAGERS (and older), if I haven’t instilled these things in you yet, I want to. And I will.

Thank you Emily for this ministry.