Dear Shelby, 3 things as you turn 15

Dear Shelby (Best Niece in the World)

Happy Birthday. It is hard to believe that you are 15 today. Wow time flies. I can still remember you living at our house as a baby when I was a senior in High School. I remember when your mom took you to one of my basketball games and held you in the NFC bleachers. You were crying (not cheering).

I also remember taking you to the FSU circus when you were 3 and introducing you to cotton candy. You got the cotton candy all over your face then played in the woodchips, which blanketed the floor of the circus tent. Woodchips stuck onto your face with cotton candy sticky-ness was pretty funny. Randomly, I also remember from that circus that you absolutely hated clowns and they scared you so much.

Well I really just want to encourage you on your birthday. You are a beautiful, smart, resilient, and wonderful 15-year old girl. I am so proud of who you have become and how you have hung on throughout the ups and downs of your childhood.

When I was in High School I lived with my parents (that is your grandparents). Funny but this is exactly where you live now. They were younger and less grouchy then for sure. Ha! But I am thankful to say that they were great examples to me of walking with God and loving each other. They are not perfect but they loved me the best they could. If I am really and truly honest I would have to admit that most of the conflict I had with my parents was not because of them. It was because I was a high schooler who wanted something (fill in the blank______) that I could not have. Those things are so small now- looking back from my 30’s! I am sure you are much better than I was.

With this letter on your birthday I just want to remind you of a few things to encourage you. I hope this does not feel to preachy, but hey, you know that’s my profession. Here we go…

1. Anchor your sense of value on God’s truth. When God sees you He sees a beautiful girl that he made in His very own image. There is simply nothing more valuable than that! No one can ever take it away from you. Genesis 1:27 says, “He created man in his image… male and female he created them.” Your value is not fundamentally based on “come and go” realities such as attention from your dad and mom, how many FB & text messages you get in a day, the car you ride in, the clothes you wear, the boy who asks you to homecoming, and stuff you do to make others laugh. Let’s be real… these things I just listed do help us all with “feeling” valued, but it will serve you well to anchor your sense of value on God’s truth (and not feelings).
   
   
2. Know that you know the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There are two subtle dangers that come with living in a Christian home and going to a Christian school. First, it is a danger that you might assume the Gospel instead of knowing that you know the Gospel and believing in the real Jesus whom the Gospel is all about. A second danger is that us older Christians (i.e. parents, grandparents, teachers, youth pastors, and especially uncles) will constantly be encouraging you to live like a Christian. We mean well, but the danger is that in our tone and repetition we may unintentionally send you the message that Christianity is all about what you do to please God. The fact is that Christianity is the exact opposite, namely what God has done for us. So here is the Gospel: God created us, we have sinned separating us from God, then God sent Jesus to save us by dying for our sins. We must turn from sin and believe in Jesus and God will save us. Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God.” You are never more or less accepted and loved by God than the level of God’s acceptance and love gained for you by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
   
   
3. Choose your friends. These days most people just sit back and let others choose their friends for them. I know that from moving around your whole life you probably feel like you’ve never been able to choose your friends and you may be glad just to have friends. However, now you are 15 and the stakes will never be higher.  Please wisely choose Godly friends (mostly girlfriends) and please do not just let friends choose you. Who you are friends with is who you are becoming and who you are becoming is who you will be. Proverbs 13:20- “whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.” Don’t be sort of a part of several churches and youth groups; rather be deeply invested in Godly friendships in one church. That is the wise plan!

I hope that those three encouragements will be of some help for you.  I know they would have helped me at 15! Again, Happy Birthday and we look forward to your next visit.

With much love from your un-cool uncle who knew Taylor Swift’s middle name when you did not,

Uncle Matt