yesterday i had lunch with three of my highschool bffs… i was SO nervous that my heart was pounding. while getting ready, i practiced my “i’m not nervous” smile in the mirror…
its been ten years. i think they tracked me down and made me go to lunch to punish me for not being at our ten year reunion.
(just kidding!)
on Christmas Eve i took a few minutes to flip through my old highschool yearbooks… i needed a quick refresher course – this did the trick, but left me confused.
what did i see of myself? homecoming princess AND prom princess AND most talented (all voted in by my peers), pictures everywhere, yearbook staff, newspaper editor, Beta Club, honors society, dated the hottest boy in our class, art awards, scholarships, etc etc etc…
what do i remember of myself? a socially awkward never-feeling-like-fit-in teenager with little understanding makeup application and even less understanding of fashion. i remember thinking no one would/did like me…
the two descriptions just can’t be of the same person!?
and who am i now? i’m just a girl… a mix of the two. less overachieving, more trendy. less insecure, more socially flexible. less scared of the world, more well-rounded from living in another world…
what about you – have you changed any in the past ten years or so?
Ten years ago I was married to an abuser, getting any worth that I believed I had from being mom to 3 little boys, and trying to please everyone by hiding the self-hate, being happy and doing it all. Today God has worked miracles and I am a truly happy single mom of 3 incredible teen guys, working my way into full-time ministry to help those who I once was, and a lot healthier!!! God is amazing!!!
btw–my high school memories are a little farther back–I was on every sport team, involved in clubs and valedictorian of my class. 25 yrs later I still do lots of physical sports, involved in community stuff and love to learn and read!!!
I think I have changed significantly in ten years but I imagine most of my long-term friends and family would say that i’m basically the same with a little extra life experience and (hopefully) maturity. The most major changes have been marrying and living in my hometown – which I LOATHED the thought of as a teenager. Otherwise I still have similar ambitions and an increasing passion for the Lord. God has been good to me, that’s for sure.
10 years ago………………………..
I smelt like pee, I was on assistance, my hair scraggly. Never knew there was a God. Listened to the world that I would never be nothing. I never dreamed to be anything..
TODAY…..
I am a coroprate leader, Discipler, Ministry leader, and a beautiful woman who adorns herself maybe not with beautiful jewels, but simple, as Jesus. My life is devoted to my family, my church, my small group and group of peers at work.
My dream 10 years ago, was to just to see beyond the grime.
WOW.. I wish someone had earlier mentioned TIDE.. It took a woman, a very strong woman to encourage me and
then I found God PERSONALLY…He touched and it’s history.
It’s not about our pasts I am learning, it’s about our futures that He is concerned about!!!
how I miss the word Dubberly