Dear 25 year old me, 

When you feel

tied down,

stuck,

like a lid

is capping

your dreams

and there is a quenching

limit

on your

freedom,

money,

time,

opportunities,

like your youth is being

wasted

slow

and there is this pressing need

to hurry

and go

somewhere,

anywhere

but here…

 

 

Please know,

dear heart,

that all that

struggle

will eventually

slow

and something new

will be released

deep inside.

Wait for it.

 

 

 

It’s like being planted.

Confining, yes,

but only in being planted

can we grow.

And growth carries more

meaning,

more wholeness,

more of everything

you deep down

desire.

 

 

One day you will,

dear heart,

open your eyes to where you are planted,

and no longer see it as

limitation.

You will see it as

life-giving.

Those round you,

growing too,

new ones joining

the spacious garden,

making room,

creating beauty

together.

 

 

A settledness 

will come over you.

very slowly.

A lot of self

will need to be sacrificed first.

Then it will come.

 

Not a settledness as in

you settled for less,

but the opposite.

 

You finally settled into

all the goodness,

all the delight,

all the expansive freedom

found 

in the awesome plan

of a God whose heart is always for you.

 

For your prosperity.

For your growth.

For your maturity.

 

It will come.

Please know

your value is not

based on

your exciting life experiences.

Being able to tell a good story after.

Having people say, “Wow!”

Your purpose is not

reliant on

catching the world’s eye.

Making a mark undeniable,

loud and clear.

Your life is worth living

even if

you haven’t 

done it all

before you’re 30.

Life is not a competition.

It’s not a race.

You will burn out

if you don’t

slow down and

take a breather.

 

Look around

where you are planted

and take a breather.

It’s far more simple here.

And there is so much life.

Practice gratitude.

Practice Sabbath.

 

See WHO you are becoming

as more important

then WHERE you are.

 

See those dear hearts around you

as divinely planted

and of more value

than any world stage

you could aspire to.

 

See God’s purpose

in their life

of higher value

than obsessing over

your own life.

 

Give God grace.

He can make something

out of your life

without you always

taking the reins.

 

Stop FOMOing.

Lean harder

into Holy Spirit

and every day

will be FULL

and you won’t be

missing out

on anything

you’re called to do.

 

Be all here now.

Give up control.

Roll with it.

But mostly,

be all here now.

 

Living in the present

is a greater gift

You can give

the world

than anything else

you could dream up.

 

 

Be all here now.

Grow those roots deep.

Lean into Holy Spirit.

See the value of those around you.

 

And,

Dear heart,

Take courage.

 

Your dreams won’t die here.

They will become

here.

You are not going to regret

one moment

of this wonderful, simple,

profoundly meaningful life,

God has given you.

 

Trust me on this.

 

Love,

Me