Last week a reader asked what one thing I wish I'd known in my early twenties. If she was hoping for profound wisdom from a seasoned woman, ahem, well, I hope she wasn't too disappointed.
I was only 20 when I got married--see the photo? Now there's a girl with a lot to learn--she just didn't know it yet. And she probably never would've asked an older woman, "Hey, what do you wish you had known?"
My reader's question did get me thinking. What DO I wish I'd known in my early adult years? I couldn't narrow it down to just one, but here are a few things that came to mind.
I wish I'd known . . .
* That my value comes from Christ, not from what I do, how I skinny I am, or who loves me.
* That I really can--and SHOULD--stand up for myself.
* That putting others on pedestals will eventually culminate in a big, painful fall. Only God deserves that place.
* That no one will care as much about my health as I do--so I'd better take charge!
* That being able to say "No" can be a healthy, wise, and loving thing to do.
Mostly I wish I'd just known who the heck I was--that would've taken care of much of the above. :-)
So what about you . . . what's your One Thing?
6 Comments:
I wish I'd known how important friends are in life. And putting them first is often the best way to be a friend--but they must be true friends to put you first, as well.
And I wish I'd learned how to write that fast first draft...
What a beautiful picture, Denise!
I would agree with this one:
* That my value comes from Christ, not from what I do, how I skinny I am, or who loves me.
P.S. Wow! You look the same now as you did then! Beautiful picture! :)
You look the same in this photo as you do today! Just gorgeous.
I wish I had ignored the voices who said you "can't do that," "you're worthless," "you're trash." I wish I could've listened to the few who encouraged me, realizing God had sent them to do just that. I still struggle sometimes with the voices in my head telling me I'm not "good enough."
Sometimes we are so damaged by those around us, it takes years to realize our worth in Christ.
This is what is attractive about Girls Write Out--you don't put your readers down, or condescend or preach in this blog, or in your books, or in your lives. This was a really good post.
Life is too short to listen to the condescending, discouraging basement people who just want to pull you down with them.
Cheryl, I still haven't learned to write a fast first draft.
Thanks, Pam. And Crystal, we all have those voices. Some of them we even make up on our own and have to learn to replace them with wiser statements.
You look gorgeous, D! And Kevin, what a hunk! :)
My one thing is that I wish I'd had more self confidence. That I believed sooner that God had given me some gifts to use.
I love what Pam wrote!! I would agree 100%!!!!
Beautiful picture, D!! You and Kevin make an awesome couple--then AND now!!!!
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