Fourteen And Running

Dear Ane,

Today you are fourteen years old.  I remember being fourteen myself so very vividly, so the memories that you are making now are the ones that you will keep for the rest of your life.  (It may have also had something to do with Auntie being born when I was 14 – however, you will not be getting a baby sibling this year, or ever again without divine intervention.)

Over the last few years, your Dad and I have really made the effort to give you more experiences, in the hopes that they will become meaningful memories for you.  When you were little, a trip to the zoo was a big deal.  Now, you go to concerts and shows and you travel.  You work really hard, you are definitely pulling your weight at school, and you are generally very responsible.

Unfortunately, you’ve also learned that those around you sometimes won’t work really hard, won’t pull their own weight, won’t be responsible for their commitments, don’t bother to become informed, and will continue to make poor choices on social media.  Welcome to human nature.  But I also want to tell you that it’s okay to let friendships end.  Sometimes, you simply outgrow certain people.  It doesn’t mean that the other person is bad – it just means that you are no longer in the same place, and drifting apart is okay.  I also give you permission to use me and your Dad as your excuses when you don’t want to hang out with certain people.  I have no problem being cast in the role of unreasonable tyrant, so long as you tell me about it.

Keep the friends who have your best interests at heart close, and let others drift away.  Just because you’ve “known them forever” doesn’t mean that you really know them, even though it feels like they tell you everything.

This coming year will be one of big changes for you.  Middle school will end, high school will begin (!!!!!!!!!!!!), who knows what sport you will want to join next fall (cross country or swim team, you can only pick one!), and you might even hop on an airplane or two.

Wherever you go, whatever you do, God will go with you and home will always be waiting for you.

… let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1b-2

Happy 14th birthday, Ane.  I love you so very much, and your brothers and Dad do, too.

Love,
Mom

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 27th, 2017 at 12:15 am and is filed under Announcements, Children.
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