For my 20th trip around the sun.
Next Thursday, January 27th, I will officially turn 20 years old…wow.. I have made it to 20. For a while, I knew I wanted to write an article for my birthday and I’ve been contemplating on what I wanted to say. I’ve had this “turning 20” conversation with all of my friends and we have said the same thing.. “What do we do now?” We’re no longer in high school, our teenage years are over, and we’ve all started our own personal journeys trying to navigate through life as best as we know how.
A part of me is constantly torn between wanting to stay tucked away behind my mom forever and going out into the world and figuring out life for myself. A part of me also wants to say that the idea of leaving my teenage years and entering my young adulthood is terrifying, but I know it’s actually quite the opposite. In my opinion, It’s actually an amazing, beautiful, and exciting phase to experience. While I have gone through life and learned so many lessons, I will only share two pieces of advice with you as the days before my twentieth start dwindling down.
Every moment soon becomes a memory.
God has loaned people to us, and whenever He wants them back, that is the final say. It’s so important to soak in every moment with your loved ones and friends because those very moments may be the only thing that keeps you going during rough times. Take those pictures, tell your people you love them, embrace them, and hold them as close as you can.
Keep the faith.
I can honestly say that my faith in God has kept me. Maybe one day I will go into detail, but for now just know that your faith? it matters. There is absolutely no way you can do this thing called life without it. As I begin to get in my “birthday mood” I will leave 3 of my all time favorite scriptures. These scriptures have given me comfort, strengthened me, and lifted me up when it seemed like no one else could.
Exodus 14:14 “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze”
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
To whomever may be reading this, I’m sure it’s perfectly normal to be nervous about entering adulthood. Take your time to process it and know that it’s okay to feel all of the feelings that come with it! I’m more than confident that Chapter 20 is going to be the best one yet and I’m excited to grow through it with the ones that I love the most.
