25 Lessons in 25 years

It is my birthday! 25th Birthday to be exact. Growing older has been so fun. I have learned so much. Though this is not where I thought I would be at age 25 it still a good life. As my birthday was coming up, I thought I would share 25 lessons that I have learned over the years. Maybe I can bestow some encouraging wisdom on you as well.

1. I love getting older.

This might be a weird fact about me but it is true! I love the wisdom God has given me through the seasons I have walked through. I love that I can look in the rearview mirror as I help women walk through life. Every year I am excited to gain wisdom and I can see it as I reflect on the year on this day.

2. Babies make me happy.

If you want to see a girl squeal about babies then better look my way. I just love them. I love that God made them so tiny and cute. What a gift!

3. Reading makes my heart sing.

I love to go to book stores with used books and feel the books. These books are stories within stories. My favorite book store is The Dusty Bookshelf. I love that God placed this bookstore in both of the places I have lived after leaving my parent’s home to go off to college and be an adult.

4. It is okay to not be okay.

5. Life is hard.

Can I get an amen? This is a lesson I have learned and actually a good one. Life isn’t roses and daisies like I imagined in my mind at age 4. It takes grit, it takes courage, it takes Jesus.

6. My sins don’t define my past, present or future.

If God can see through my sins of the past, why can’t I? God doesn’t see them when He thinks of me. He doesn’t make His decision about loving me based on my sin. Jesus came down to put my sin on himself so that I can have a full life.

7. My circumstances might be difficult but my God is greater.

8. I choose to only surround myself with happiness.

When I get to make choices about my circumstances and surroundings, I choose happiness. But as we know, sometimes God is in control of our circumstances and puts us in seasons that grow us. Sometimes these seasons are not full of happiness but they are full of joy in Jesus.

9. My joy is found in Jesus no matter my circumstance.

10. Always treat people better than they expect to be treated.

I work in education so I have a lot of expectations from students, parents, directors, faculty, and colleagues about how they think they should be treated. I also go shopping a lot and interact with the public. All of these people are God’s beloved children. I should treat them that way.

11. My friends quickly became my extended family in Christ Jesus.

Once I became a Christian, I realized that my friends who were also followers of Jesus were people that I always wanted in my life. These women know me and love me. I feel like I can be vulnerable with these friends and they will always love me.

12. Contentment is when your soul is okay, even when you don’t get what you want.

How am I going to learn how to live in every situation if God doesn’t put me in every situation? I recently memorized Philippians 4:11-12 with my life group, “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.”

13. I have regrets but I get to live on hope more than anything.

14. Jesus made me to share my story with college women.

God has given me a passion and love for college women, especially ones that are now coming to know Christ. I came to Christ in college and I love seeing other women come to college and grow during this transforming time in their lives.

15. God has provided unique gifts for me.

God just knows me and he gifts me in this way. For one, He gave me Henry - my dog. Do I love Henry more than what some would say is normal - yes. But I know God picked him as a gift for me in a difficult time.

16. My parents will always be there for me. I should cherish it because not everyone feels that way.

17. Justice for our own sin is healing.

We have a God of justice. He loves me enough to show me my sin and help me learn and heal.

18. There are some people that I will always connect with even if it has been months since I’ve seen them.

These are good friends.

19. Don’t open up the vulnerable parts of your heart to everyone.

I learned this lesson in a difficult way. Not everyone is deserving of our hearts. That might seem hypocritical since I am attempting to be a blogger but there are things hidden in my heart that are not disclosed on this blog. They are disclosed to my nearest and dearest friends.

20. Writing a blog is hard. Writing is hard.

21. God provides and fulfills his promises.

The Word is full of God’s promises and He is always faithful.

22. Good friends share Jesus with you.

We always need to have the Word and the love of Jesus shared with us. Friends that always point us back to the cross are our good friends.

23. My life’s purpose is to make disciples of all nations.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

24. Good friends call out your sin.

25. Where you invest your heart, you invest your life.

Thank you, Mumford & Sons, for this truth. Yes, I changed the lyrics because the feeling of “love” didn’t cut it. It had to be my whole heart that functions that God gave me to be true in my life. As Jesus says, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:21.