I re-posted something on Facebook that required reading to
the end as the young man said that he had written about “HIS experience and did
not intend it to apply to all!” One of
my F/B friends took umbridge that I would be trying to “fix” – his word – other
people. The interesting thing is that
we ALL need fixing in some way. I felt
I was the “square peg” trying to fit into the “round hole” all through school,
not just jr. high and high school. I
just took a different route than the young man in question and I thought that
he made some excellent points, mainly that you become what you spend your time
focusing on!
The Bible verse that “saved the day” for me was the
“whatsoever” verses found in Phillippians Chapter 4 verses 4 – 8. “Rejoice in the Lord always, Again I say,
rejoice!! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious
for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus. Finally bretheren, whatever
things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever
things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good
report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – think on
THESE THINGS.” - New KJV
I also discovered in my 30s that “the IN crowd” were just
better actors – everyone felt like they just didn’t fit in; they were on the
outside looking in – especially in
junior high, and no one would want to return to those years!! WHY is this not “common knowledge”? Why do we have to find our niche, pursue our
passions, test the waters of acceptance BEFORE we have the wisdom to know that
everyone else is on the same journey?
In my 40s, I had a friend send me a four page letter about
growing up with an alcoholic mother and never being able to have a friend come
over after school to play as she was never sure what shape her mom would be
in. I sent her a note that I never had
friends come home to play after school as my mom watched other folk’s children
and I was expected to come home, do my chores, practice my piano lesson, and
help with the family plus those extra little ones! I was the oldest, so I had my own “cross to bear!” I hope that it helped her to come to terms
with her dysfunctional childhood to know that while I wasn’t in her situation,
I had my own challenges. We are still
email friends and try to get together when we are in CO.
Rejoice in the LORD, always!!
