Growing Pains

I'm ony 19 years old, yet life feels so tough. Why?

It’s so easy to focus on the things I lost. My family’s home, my mom, close friends, strength and inspiration… yet I seem to forget that God can give, but He also can take away. And in all circumstances, I have nothing else left but a thankful heart. I still thank Him for giving me what he did, even if it was for a short time. It’s hard, but there is nothing left to do but continue forward.

Nothing will ever replace what was lost. A mother’s wisdom. A friend’s shoulder to cry on. A home’s warmth and comfort. The memories made are endless and will always remain. This may be the toughest thing to swallow. But it’s not over. Dark times serve a purpose. Reality hits hard…but life is still a gift. Hoping to use my experiences as a way to uplift and help others who will go through the same struggle.

Love your parents because as much as we think they won’t grow older, they do. Cherish your friends because you never know when you’ll lose one. Make the most of being in school because tuition will only go up from here. Push through, be patient and work hard with getting into classes despite if you're wait-listed or not because the ones who are determined enough to get into a class will surely get into it. Be thankful if you live at home because you’ll miss it once you leave it. Work hard if you have a job because it will definitely pay off later. Forgive others as He has forgiven you, and most of all, forgive yourself.

The pain I feel from losing people only motivates me to love others more. I’ll cherish what I have now, so that whenever it leaves me again, I’ll proudly say that I made the most of what was given to me.

"So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever. "

~ 2 Corinthians 4: 16-18 (The Message)