A Letter to Myself

I recently read on another blog that I follow, a letter that the writer wrote to her 20 year old self. I thought it was so funny, and that I should give it a shot.

Dear Sheila,

This is a letter to you...you young 20 year old thing! In 16 years, you are going to be looking back at yourself and reflecting on your life. I know that you have no idea what is ahead, so let me just fill you in.....

1. You are in your second year of marriage! The honeymoon has long passed, and you know really well by now that marriage is hard work! Some days you wonder what you were thinking! Just hang on....marriage takes work, and you may think that you are not up for the job. In time, you will realize that the bond you have with that good-lookin' hunk of a man that you are married to, grows stronger and deeper! My advice to you and your man would be to enjoy these years!

2. In about 2 days, February 8th, 1993, you are going to be finding out that you are pregnant for the first time! Have you been wondering why you are sick to your stomach day and night? Well there is your reason! You are going to get up enough nerve to go into Albertsons and buy your first pregnancy test...and then you will find out that you are going to be a mother! Your baby is going to be a girl, and she is going to change your life in so many ways!

3. Enjoy your sleep-filled nights! Based on the news that you are about to recieve, your sleep will become a precious treasure! For the next 10 years, you are not going to get much sleep!

4. Stop stressing over the price of gas and groceries!! The fact that you can fill your little Ford Escort up for $10. 50, is going to make you cry someday! And paying $80.00 for two weeks worth of food, is astounding! In 16 years, you will pay 65.00-80.00 to fill your Minivan (you will have to drive a family car...you will have three kids!) and your grocery bill will be in the ball park of $300.00 for two weeks!! So, whatever you do now, chill out and be thankful!

5. Keep praying for the five sister-in-laws that you will someday have! I know that weighs heavy on your heart, but it all turns out amazingly!! You will be best friends with them in 16 years! Your teen-aged brother and brother-in-laws, end up choosing adorable, sweet girls to marry!

6. If there is any way that you could find someone to teach you how to handle money, do it! In 16 years, you will be following the Dave Ramsey financial plan, and you will wish that you could have learned it all much earlier! Another thing.....save your money!

7. Get a shirt out of your drawer, and look at the size....see that single S (small)on the tag? You are getting ready to say goodbye to that size for a long, long time! If that makes you weep, get over it! In 16 years, you will be on Weight Watchers, trying to get rid of all the weight you gained during your child-bearing years! It would be so good for you to learn more about healthy living....someday you will be sorry that you ate food to make yourself feel happy!

8. Get in your car and go to Murphy.....stop in for a visit at Grandpa and Grandma Aman's house, and listen to his stories again. If you are lucky, he may even sing you a Cowboy song or two. In a few short years, Poppy is going to get cancer and leave this earth, and in 16 years, you will give anything to spend an afternoon together! He is someone you can learn so much from, don't miss it!

9. Stop trying to impress people!!! This maybe one of the biggest areas you need to work on! People are human, and they do mess up!! You are spending so much wasted energy on trying to get certain people to like you! Please listen to me:

True friends love you for who you truly are, not what you can do for them!

You are surrounded by many people who care about you and want what is best for you. But you also have a few people in your life, who only want to be your friend when it is convienent for them.....don't spend too much time worrying about them! In 16 years, some of them won't give you the time of day! Invest in the lives of people....care for them, and love unconditionally!

10. Let God love you as He has promised He does! You tend to let guilt and shame squeeze the life out of you....instead let His Grace bathe you daily! Sheila, it is your heart that matters to God! He doesn't look at your past and hold it against you, so stop doing that to yourself!
Let go of the things that keep you seperated from His love.....Someday, you will encounter God in an amazing way, and you will wonder why it took so long to see His character and His love for you!

There are many things that I could share with you, Twenty year-old Sheila, but I think that is enough for now. Maybe when you are 36, you will have it all together!! In the meantime, sit back and enjoy this life God has gifted you...make it matter!

Love,
Sheila