Hey, my lovely Jotters!
Alright, so I'm taking a new approach with this blog post because I feel it's a very important subject for all those under the age of 20 (including me), and my typical format just didn't seem to fit with how I wanted to explain this topic: Honoring you father and mother.
Before you roll your eyes at me, I understand that many moms and/or dads out there don't meet up-to-par with biblical standards, but hear me out. Even if you don't have a mom and dad, maybe you were raised by family or friends or at least have someone you can look up to as a parental figure (they're pretty important to help guide you in life), just read this post.
This subject is often disregarded as "unnecessary", "lame", or even painful. But over the years I've been taught a lot of things by my parents (even if they never realized what they taught me) that I wish I knew when I was 10 so I could be ready later on, but I had to learn the hard way by ignoring them and being kicked in the butt later by my mistakes. That's why I want you guys to know now what I've learned over the past 20 years before you decide to ignore really important advice, because God instructs us clearly:
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12)
1. Try new things, even if you DO NOT want to.
So this was one that probably would have come in handy if I didn't enjoy TV so much. Although I enjoyed going places with my parents on vacation or enjoying a new flick, I should've gotten WAY more involved in school and with friends than I did. Unfortunately, I missed out on a lot because I failed to get out of the house once and a while and actually do something during my middle school years. Even in high school I ignored my dad's advice about visiting a college I had no interest in whatsoever. I eventually did and guess what? I'm studying there now. Lesson learned, take advantage of opportunities while you're young because it prepares you for later on when you'll be bombarded with twice the amount of responsibilities, and you never know, it could become a lifetime passion.
2. Save, save, SAVE.
Spending money used to be my job. I couldn't have enough stuff. Whenever I'd get a paycheck, it was off to the mall. I hadn't a care in the world because what's the fun of having money if you can't spend it? Answer, you can use it for you education so you can get way more money in the future with an actual job. If I would've saved as much as I spent, my college would be half paid for. So start saving now, you won't regret it.
3. Getting sleep is a good thing.
"Go to bed!" was THE worst and most annoying thing I've ever heard come out of my parents' mouths when I was still living under their roof. Who needs sleep when I can nap after school, there's too many things to do at night! Now that I'm busy in college and HAVE to stay up late, I really wish I would've taken advantage of those glorious nine hours a night while I could. Plus, sleeping prevents old age from setting in faster. Let's stay young as long as possible.
4. Study and do your homework.
I admit, I'm a procrastinator big time and a lot of that can be blamed on the bad habits I developed before college. I got good grades regardless of studying a lot because school was way too easy. I say that now because college gave me a huge wake-up call. I now have tons of homework, even though I take half the classes, and I have a harder time studying and doing my homework because it's way harder. So develop good habits now, they'll stick with you and will be extremely useful.
5. Dating in middle school and high school causes too much stress, so skip on that for now.
This was a huge realization after I got to college. I had wanted a boyfriend since 5th grade and finally got my wish when I started high school. I was a pretty big airhead so looking at other relationships I was like "That's never going to last, they're awful together" or even "They're way too young. Why are they even dating?!" I should've put my money where my mouth was on that one because looking back now, I could've been doing so many more things I wanted to do and finding myself and what I was all about before I had to pick a major for college. So my advice, wait until college because it saves you time, stress, and a broken heart.
6. You're not as smart as you think you are.
Maybe it's the fact that once we all turn into teenagers we think we've developed super powers and our parents got dumber, or that all that TV and internet gave us really big egos and we think we're full of the world's knowledge. I don't know, but I thought my parents were really stupid. Everything they said was pointless and would never be useful later. Hmm, now that all their advice is being used today now that I'm basically living on my own, they got pretty smart in a hurry.
7. You're going to get a lot farther in life if you get your nose out of the air.
Teenagers are just stuck up, and I was one of them. I thought I was better than everyone else and that whatever everyone else was doing was stupid. Let me tell you now, treating everyone with respect and kindness is going to subtract your enemies and multiply your friends. Trust me on this one, even a simple smile can get you farther than an eye roll, and you feel a lot better about yourself and others in the end. So pop that ego bubble and start being nice for a change, even if you hate the person(s).
8. Spend time with loved ones while they're here.
I love my family and I always will, but I realize that I spent so much time hanging with friends, doing school stuff, or just staying at home that I forgot what the most important thing next to God was, family. I have lost two grandmas, a cousin, and an aunt in the past 6 years and if only I had taken more time to visit once in a while than maybe I could've developed stronger relationships with them and would have gotten to say goodbye. So please, spend as much time as possible with the ones you love while there's time. Our time here on earth is going to flash by faster than we know.
9. Who cares what you look like.
This is a tough one to process because we always think someone's constantly judging us on our appearance and how we dress. I always had to have makeup on and dress super neat whenever I went out in public because I always felt eyes on me no matter where I was or who the person was. I admit, that habit is still hard to break but I've realized that typically people just don't care! The truth is, you only THINK someone's looking at you, and even if they are, who cares! Their opinion doesn't matter. You look good no matter what.
And the most important thing my rents taught me....
10. Even if no one else is there for you, God always will be.
If you haven't paid any attention to anything I've said so far, listen to this. God will NEVER stab you in the back, use you, cheat on you, break His promise, abandon you, hurt you, talk behind your back, steal from you, lie to you, or disappoint you. God knows what's best for you and that's why he gave us parental figures. My friends, nothing is more important than knowing God loves you and is planning your future this instant. Sometimes we may stray of the path intended, but He uses our mistakes so that we may be redirected back to Him towards a future full of hope and our wildest dreams, because when all else fails...God won't.
Love you.
