I wanted to write in order to share some gospel truth with you. In your mind at the moment, the world swings between a devastatingly hard place to live, and paradise. But this is for you in your darker moments.
Sweet child I'm asking you to stop looking in the mirror and judging the girl you see there. Nay, I'm begging that you would stop that. Do you know how it will fill your life with insecurity? You need to see that it's going to affect how you look at yourself now that you are 20. You also need to know that it gets better. Oh I'm not talking about our looks, although with age comes a certain maturity and style. I'm talking about how we see our self. If only I would lend you my eyes for a second so you could see the new reflection. We look pretty similar but there is more to this reflection. A depth that is not explained by hormones or study. I can see a sadness in the eyes that wasn't seen before. I can see a trusting heart that has been betrayed a few too many times, cried too many tears. I can see an awareness of my sin more potently than ever. But there is something else mixed in. With the sadness there is a knowledge displayed of ultimate joy. There is the lingering fingerprints of the comfort of the Lord. There is a big part of your heart for your friends. The true friends who haven't betrayed you and never will. And I can see a depth that I didn't possess when I was you. My knowledge has grown, not only of the sin and depravity in this world but also my knowledge of grace and mercy. I can truly claim; 'where sin increased, grace increased all the more.' It hasn't been an easy couple of years, but I know now that God has been there every single step of the way.
With much love,
Erin
