An Open Letter for the First Day of School

I usually start my blog with a scripture, but not today. And it's probably a little more than a #60seconddevo. See, I don't have a single verse today. Today's blog is an open letter--specifically to my daughter, but also to all students who start school tomorrow, whether it's pre-K or, like Chloe, your senior year of high school.

So here we go. Some things I'd like to tell you:

Remember who you are. My grandmother admonished my dad with that phrase when he was young. Dad admonished my older siblings and me. I have admonished you and your brother. You are, first and foremost, a child of the King. You belong to Him, and you represent Him. "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17) You also represent your father and me (and yes, your Mo and Papaw, even though they're no longer with us). You are an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Find joy this year. "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." (Proverbs 17:22) Remember God is always good. Always. You may have days in which you don't think you have any reason to be happy or joyful. Make it a point to count your blessings on those days. I promise you'll find some reasons to be happy. Because God is always good.

Don't forget how incredible you are. Not because you're pretty or smart (although I believe you are both of those and more). No, you're incredible just by virtue of being a creation of the true and living God. Remember, "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." (Psalm 139:14) You are an amazing young woman, and you need to remember that.

Always be kind. I know you've had friends in the recent past who've turned out not to be friends at all. One of the people you believed you could count on told lies about you. Some of your friends ghosted you after that. Turned out not to be loyal. Don't let those people make you bitter. Don't let your experiences make you distrustful. "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience ..." (Colossians 3:12) Treat others--all others--the way you want to be treated (Matthew 7:12), no matter how others may treat you.

Suck it up. I know. You hate it when I say that. But sometimes, no matter how hard you work, in spite of doing everything right, people and situations and life in general will knock you down. And you have a choice. You can stay down and get trampled. Or you can get up and keep going. You are stronger than you think, but there is One even stronger, and He holds you in His hands. "You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance." (Psalm 32:7) He will help you.

Pray. All the time. No power on earth is stronger than the power of a sincere conversation with God. Praise Him in your victories, thank Him for your blessings, cry out to Him when you're hurting. "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:13-16) Just pray.

Make new friends. Everyone needs friends. "And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:12) And you never know; you may be the person who saves someone else's life ... just by being a friend.

Listen to your parents. I'll tell you a little secret: I know stuff. Doesn't mean I'm smarter than you are, but the simple number of my years means I've experienced things you have not. "A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke." (Proverbs 13:1) If you listen to me, I may be able to save you from mistakes or heartache.

And finally, my sweet girl, be brave. God is always with you. He loves you even more than I do. And with Him, you can be a warrior. "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be[i]against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long;     we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:31-39) Be brave.