I'm sure most of you have seen the Disney movie "The Kid", where Bruce Willis' character meets his younger self, played by Spencer Breslin. Well, there is a scene where Bruce is talking to an aquaintance about the fact that's he met his younger self, which the woman surprisingly seems to believe. She then tells him that if she younger self were to come visit her, the one thing she would tell her is that everything is going to be ok.

Have you ever thought about what you would say to your younger self if you met him/her? I was just thinking about how God has really given me a burden to reach out younger students, especially those in junior high. I have to admit that have somewhat pushed this aside. Now granted, I do not think nor or even later is the time for to be fully devoted to ministering to these students, but I do believe it is supposed to be a part of my life. And I have noticed that I have been pushing away those thoughts about the way life used to be for me... back when I was in junior high...

Junior high was tough for me. Some how, some way, I was able to withstand many of the temptation and pressures thrown my way during that critical age. I had to cling on so tightly to God... that was when I finally began to understand what a relationship with God was. I had some really high standards for myself that others my age did not have, and that was only by the grace of God.

So as I reflect and remember on those painful times, I wonder what I would say to the twelve or thirteen year old version of myself if she was to fnd her way to modern-day Murfreesboro. And like that woman in "The Kid" I would assure myself that everything would be ok and that it would work out. But I would have to go further that...

I would have to encourage young Amy that to stick with our convictions and standards, but to always seek God above all else, because He will surprise her. I would tell her that high school and college aren't a cakewalk, but they are definitely better than junior high. I would have to tell her that God is going to take her to some great places. I would assure that she will make some strong Christian friends. I would tell her life will consist of many stories that will one day encourage her as a twenty-year old college student that still doubts sometimes that God is there for her. I would tell her to keep journaling, because one day she will look back, realizing the importance of remembering what it was like so that she could more effectively minister to others.

Stay strong, Amy, is what I would tell her. And if thirty-year old Amy came to me today, I'm sure she would share those same words with me. I may not know what the next several years will bring me, or heck, even the next several months, weeks, or days, but I know that if I stay strong and look to God, it will all work out just fine... probably much different than I expected... but all things do indeed work together for the good of those who love Him...