Find your inner woman 17: Forever young

The other day I walked into a bank to open an account and as I followed the petite, smiling banker to her desk she asked me if "we" were opening a teen account today...

Last week someone at youth group thought I was there as a student rather than one of the leaders...

At church on Sunday a kindly lady asked me what grade I was in...

Remarks like these used to really upset me but I think I really have come to terms with this young face of mine. I mean, what really is there to be upset about? Of course, everyone wants to look older when they are young and younger when they are old but isn't it all rather silly? What is the basis of this bizarre need to be viewed a certain age, even if it's just the age we actually are? It's not like we have anything to do with how old we are. It's not like I can take pride in my age or even ownership.

A person's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed - Job 14:5

My days are not my own. James says my life is only a vapour. Not exactly ample reason to stress about how many years I have had. Rather it's what I do WITH them that matters.

So I'll be "forever young" I guess, until that magical day when perhaps I will look older. I am who I am. Perhaps being "ageless" has it's perks. Perhaps it doesn't. What does it matter anyways? Perhaps we should just not judge people by their age or how they look, there's a thought...

After all God uses the weak against the strong and the foolish to shame the wise.

Where does that leave me? At the realization that I should see the person, not the stats written on their passport.

Besides sometimes I feel like a ten year old anyways... who's to judge?

C'mon let's all be kids again

Katy

Pastor Don always calls us kids, today he even called us children and ya know, coming from another person, we might be tempted to take offense but I find it strangely comforting and encouraging when he says it. I know that he loves us so much and it is a term of endearment but more than that, it is a compliment in a way for we are enthusiastic as children as we learn all this new stuff. It is cool to be a kid, I mean, it's not like I'm old or anything but I haven't really thought of myself as a kid for awhile and it's really refreshing. It gives you complete freedom to ask questions, to learn without worrying about what others will say. Kids have an innocence and aptitude for learning that I think we slowly lose as we grow older.

Jackie

I watch Katy, Jackie, and Ally (Jared and Annie's kids) each day and I've been really thinking about this a lot today. The girls are so free to laugh, so quick to accept, so quick to love and trust. I find it sad that I have lost this ability. I mean, it's necessary because the real world isn't a Bible Collage campus and we can't just go around letting strangers scoop us up, eating meals beside and chattering to whoever will listen, etc. But sometimes I wish it were not such a place that hardens people so much and makes us all afraid to trust others. It has been such a blessing living here these three months and I feel the trust of a child with everyone around here - the collage and the church. I feel safe, like a child with her family. Yet, of course, I've also observed the girls pull fits and cry, demand things selfishly as children and compete with each other and I have to say, I feel like we all somehow maintain that part of our childhood to some degree. I know I still have a tendency to want attention, to want my needs met first, to cry when I'm frustrated or stressed. Unfortunately, my mind is not as quick to forgive, forget and get over whatever issue I'm fretting about. I think there is a lot we can learn from kids and in some ways, things we could change about ourselves.

Ally

I pray that I am always a kid - in a way that I am always ready to learn, that I accept wisdom and realize that I do need discipline and guidance like a child sometimes. I want to be God's kid - always trusting, loving unconditionally, excited over every word that He has to say and waiting anxiously for my Father always. I thank Him for giving me the chance to be considered a kid again under Pastor Don's wise teaching and I pray that He gives me a child's mind, open and receptive, yet wisdom beyond my years to discern and find the truth.