dear younger addison

12/28/2021 11:22 AM

Dear younger Addison,

I have a few words I want to share with you my friend. Life is not easy. It never has been, it never will be. You will face so many hard seasons, but you will also find immense joy and sanctification through your trials. As much as I wish you could actually be reading this letter and hear these words, that’s not how life works. Despite this you’ll figure it out and you’ll survive. If you could read this here’s what I would tell you.

Middle school Addy, oh how naive you are. Don’t skip lunch every day to practice. It’s not worth it. You need to find your identity in the Lord. I know it’s tempting and you will fail. Boys, band, looks, volleyball, friends, and grades do not define you. Your worth was determined on the cross.

Freshman Addy, again do not skip meals to achieve a body that you think will satisfy you and make you worthy of all the love that you desire. Watch who you surround yourself with and listen to your parents. They love you and are trying so hard to reach you. You aren’t alone, people see you and are trying, choose to put in effort to be happy. You have to stop choosing others and start choosing joy in the Lord.

Sophomore Addy, I see how far you’ve come. You are a new creation in Christ. You have incredible friends, cherish them while they’re here. Life is about to change for everyone in the world and it’s going to be scary. You’re going to go back into isolation and you can’t let it pull you from Christ again. Don’t overextend yourself, spend time with your family.

Junior Addy, I love you. I think that you are necessary. I need you. I see how hard you’re trying and I am proud of you. I see all the struggles that you are in, but I also see you fighting. You aren’t giving up, you are committed and I am proud of you for that. Remain in the Lord, abide in Him. Keep challenging your fleshly desires. You have to preach the gospel to yourself and you have to have grace for yourself and others. People are going to fail you hard. But you are also going to fail others, don’t forget that.

I wish with my whole heart that I could pour into you, younger Addy. I can’t. The Lord has delivered you from every struggle that I wish I could guide you in. You don’t need older me to give you advice, you are His and he will not fail you.

Praying,

Addison Wimbish