Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

If you could go back in time to give advice to yourself 5, 10, or even 15 years ago, what would you say? Would you change things about yourself?  Would you wish you thought differently?

Here are some of the things I would tell myself:

1.  Don't try so hard! You don't have to care so much for the opinions of man. You are already enough and you are doing enough. You don't have to push yourself over the limit and care so much about what others think you should be. Be who God created you to be! 
2. Live in the moment! Don't look too far down the road. Don't look back so much. Enjoy this day that has been given to you. Because every day is a good day to have a good day.
3. Put the camera down! Pictures are fun to capture and have the memories of a certain event. But taking many pictures takes away from the enjoyment of things. In an age of digital cameras and phones that make it easy to snap away, put the camera down and enjoy the moments right now. Just take a couple of pictures to remember a moment but not too many. 
4. Look at the bright side of things! When things don't go as planned, don't let those moments get you down. Trials will come and they are meant to build up our faith. You will get through them so keep on pressing forward. (Romans 5:3-5)
5. Be brave and do what it is God is calling you to do. Don't let the naysayers discourage you from your journey. You can do this! You can shine for Him!
6. Don't worry so much! Worry brings anxiety which is not part of God's plan.  Look at the birds of the air and remember that we don't need to worry about tomorrow. (Matt. 6:34)
7. Keep on loving like Jesus loves.  It's going to be hard. There are people that don't seem to deserve the love you give. But there were people who mistreated Jesus and He still loved them anyway. Love your enemies and the unlovable. 
8. Also, be sure to set clear boundaries. Sometimes, people feel the need to cross over the boundaries into your lane way too much. Be bold enough to say, "that is enough" and mark the lines so they can get back in their own lane. 
9. Don't spend so much time on social media. Many of those people aren't real relationships. Invest your time with the people around you. Keep special moments private without sharing them all over the place. Focus on relationships that aren't through a virtual world.
10. You are beautiful. Every inch of you that God created is beautiful. What the world thinks is beautiful is not. You don't have to weigh a certain amount and look flawless. You are perfect, just the way God created you. 

Though I would tell myself these things, I know that the things I've learned as I've gained wisdom was part of the growing process that I've needed. Tomorrow will still have it's challenges and new things to learn. However, as my faith grows, my reliance on Jesus helps me as I go through life.