A letters to a friend....

Dear one,

It's taken me a while to write to you. I hope you forgive me. We have lost contact for such a while now, due to me not knowing if you would be proud of who I have become. So much has happened and I just didn't take the time to tell you everything that has happened. Didn't see any of these valleys along the way. In truth, can any of us know what is ahead of us? I also didn't see how many beautiful mountain top moments that were to come. I have been well, busy with life. I had a moment of serenity the other day. I ran outside in the rain and then climbed a tree and watched the raindrops fall from the leaves. It was one of those moments that everything slows down and you are in awe of life. In that moment, you came to my mind and I had to write to you. Life can be hard, old friend, and I just want to be honest; it's been a hard road. I have hit many a pothole. I have even gone off in the ditch a time or two. You know when we were young we would have the biggest dreams and laugh at the future.

Now that I am grown, I find that I have a more difficult job seeing all the colors we did. For the longest time, all I could see was black and white. But I am writing this to tell you life has so much more color now. It's coming back, like when the dawn meets the night and the colors invade the dark. Painting a new picture against the horizon with splashes of pink, orange, and warmth that hits your face. Colors that can be felt. I think you would be proud; I have a few regrets, not many but a few. In the moments when I struggle, I have often thought back to you. Actually, I have thought about you more than I can count.

You have always been faithful. You are so loyal, true, full of pure love and understanding. I desire and must admit at times envy your sense of goodness and joy that you hold. You are so loving and see people in such a way that is positive. You see the heart and accept them for where they are. You have a heart to help those who are hurting. I was one of those, and your heart encouraged me to do the hardest things. Your childlike faith and bravery of heart have been a constant example in my life. If we never see each other again, I want you to have this letter and know I will build a life that will make you proud. If you could see me, you would say "You did it!" I also know you would say "Keep going, don't give up. There is nothing you can't do. You have one life, so get out there and get it. I believe in you and you got this."

I would also tell you and inform you that life is hard. We will go through deep dark valleys. We will have moments of crushing and think it is the end. We will face many hard things. We will have times where we are crying on the floor without a belief that we will get up. But then somehow and someway we do get up. We get up and grind. We accomplish great things we never thought we could and do things we couldn't even dream of. Yahweh will create beauty from the good, the bad, and the ugly. So hold on dear one, for when the storms come, I am here to tell you, we make it.

Well, I must go, but this is not goodbye, for we will always be connected. I know you will have a beautiful life; you will be blessed for your faithfulness. You have a good heart, and you will overcome all that comes against you.

With all my love

The future me

~

Have you ever wanted to go back in time and tell yourself to do this or that? Or don't do this or that. Have you wanted to go back and give a word of encouragement? I have, and that is what this letter is. A letter to my younger self. I hope it helps you as much as it helped me writing it. That younger you deserves to be proud and to be healthy and whole. So let's make life you against you. Not you against the world. The change that we want to see in the world, in our family, in our community, and in life, starts with the change inside.

With love

Elysa