Looking into the eyes of the younger me,

Ooh, how beautiful and adorable.

Smiling in those chubby cheeks,

Enjoying every moment of life

Little did I know how the world would turn out to be.

Goosh… look at that skin complexion,

Glowing in softness and sleekness.

The tenderness of heart felt right through a still picture,

The pretty little dress, cute socks,

The tiny hands and feet.

Where did all that cuteness and chubby cheeks go to?

But this here is my portion,

And I guess I grew up a little too fast.

So this here is what I would love to tell the younger me:

You will grow up into a beautiful lady,

Intelligent, very smart indeed,

Because that’s what the Holy Spirit gave you.

“Knowledge” is what will fascinate you,

Knowledge of the beauty of God on earth,

Knowledge of the things you’re passionate about,

Knowledge of God.

That is how the Spirit of God gifted you.

You will grow up into a beautiful lady:

Skippy, jumpy, a lover of art, chocolate cake, and kids.

You will be fascinated by nature;

You will love mountains, rivers, and springs,

And let’s not forget about the gentle breeze

That blows over the face of the earth.

You see the lessons of your childhood;

Well, you’ll go through them,

And they won’t break you.

That will be your training ground.

All that experience will build passion in you

A passion to love and to serve,

A source of happiness and inner joy,

A source of that deep satisfaction

That you will feel every Sunday afternoon.

Did you get that last part right?

Scared about it? Don’t know how?

Well, that choice isn’t yours—it’s God’s.

You will take time to make important decisions,

And when you decide,

You will stand firm like Mt. Kilimanjaro,

Rooted deep under the face of the earth.

You will learn to find joy in the mundane,

You will jump around and sing random melodies,

You will enjoy hikes and sunsets,

Trees, butterflies, and flowing water.

Bottom line is, you will always be a child at heart.

And for that, my dear, I wouldn’t worry about the adult you.

You will do great, and you will be happy.

Featured image by yours truly.