Dear me..

Grey Heron (Taken at Keitakuen.) Photo by Laitche

An open letter to my younger self:

Good morning, me,

I know you are thinking that these days are lasting forever. That you will never sleep again. That your kids will never use the proper facilities to evacuate their bowels. I’m here to tell you, they will. When people tell you, these days go so fast and you walk away rolling your eyes, pushing that double stroller, bending down for the umpteenth time to pick up a sippy cup, catching a whiff of a certain odor emanating from the smiling child… You hiking up those maternity pants thinking you will be prego forever.

You won’t.

Rather, than worrying where you will go to lunch, which park, which mall, spend time sitting on the floor. Playing with those sweet toys. Don’t worry about the stupid apartment. Stop rushing around cleaning. It’s not worth it. Call Grandma a whole lot more. Let your kids hear her voice. Actually, will you record her voice? Stop stressing when you go see them, trying to get a whole list done at their place, instead just sit with a cuppa coffee and just talk with them.

As I write, I’m about to start feeling a whole lotta guilt. You know the feeling. And I remind myself of this:

[L Therefore] Since you were ·raised from the dead [L raised] with Christ, ·aim at[aspire to; seek after; focus on] ·what is in heaven [L the things above], where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. 2 ·Think only about [Set your minds on; Fix your thoughts on] the things ·in heaven [L above], not the things on earth. 3 [L For] ·Your old sinful self has [L You] died, and your new life is ·kept [hidden] with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, ·comes again [appears; L is revealed], you will ·share in his[L be revealed with him in] glory. Colossians 3 EXB

Get started with those index cards. (You know what I’m talking about.) Paste this set of verses on the wall. The worry? It changes, but it is still sin. The regrets? They compound as you see your oldest become a high schooler. Yes, he’s 14 years old. All the years you listen to neurologists, therapists, doctors on your next? Just stop the madness, it doesn’t help, they don’t know what is wrong with him. Tell all of the doctors you are done. Trust me on this. Stop worrying! Give thanks that he is healthy. Enjoy his sweet smile. Instead, just spend time with him. Practice his cards. Hug him. He does learn how to read. He does!

And so, learn this lesson now. We (you and I) 🙂 aspire to seek after, focus on what is in heaven! Sing the hymns our sweethearts. Hug that sweet husband of yours. He is still your greatest encouragement. A gift. Treat him as such. When you start to worry, when you start to stress, even panic and weep,, oh, my dear self, think ONLY about the things of heaven. You are kept with Christ. You are hidden with Him. You can trust God. The view from here is amazing. The lake near our house (yes the lake) is lovely.

Have joy! 13 “I am coming to you now. But I ·pray [L say] these things while I am still in the world so that ·these followers [these disciples; L they] can have all of my joy [ L made complete; fulfilled] in them. 14 I have given them your ·teaching [word]. And the world has hated them, because they don’t belong to the world, just as I don’t belong to the world. 15 I am not asking you to take them out of the world but to ·keep them safe[protect them] from the ·Evil One [or evil; C the Evil One is the Devil]. John 17 EXB

You are safe in His arms. You are safe from the Evil One. Keep memorizing His Word. Keep studying His Word. As you encounter people who need to know the love of God, keep sharing His love.

Well, all my kids are (yes all four of them..see? They made it..) ready to eat breakfast. Set your mind on the things above. Not on money worries, not on neurologist’s best guesses, not on friend worries (it’s so temporary), but set your mind on things above. You are LOVED!

20 “I ·pray for these followers [L ask not only for these], but I am also ·praying [L asking]for all those who will believe in me because of their ·teaching [message; proclamation;L word]. 21 Father, I ·pray [L ask] that they can be one. As you are in me and I am in you, I ·pray [L ask] that they can also be ·one in us [L in us]. Then the world will believe that you sent me. 22 I have given these people the ·glory [honor] that you gave me so that they can be one, just as you and I are one. 23 ·I will be in them and you will be in me [L I in them and you in me] so that they will be ·completely one [in perfect unity]. ·Then […so that] the world will know that you sent me and that you loved them just as much as you loved me. John 17 EXB

Walk in the love. Pray on. Pray on.

Oh! BTW, I’m not sure if this song will work..but it’s one of my favorites and remember, He fights for you. For your family.