Sunday, September 5, 2010

Turning Twenty

Today is my last day as a teenager.

It's hard to believe, even for me. I certainly don't feel like a twenty-year-old. I've often felt that I don't fit my age, starting way back when I was eleven years old. I realized then that in many ways, I was both older and younger than other kids I knew. Here's why:

I felt older because I read so much and was well-informed about a wide variety of subjects (I think a lot of it came from being home-schooled, but that's another topic altogether). Also, I wasn't swayed by most of the fickle notions of my generation.

But at the same time, I felt younger. I didn't feel the need to grow up fast and be burdened with the cares of adulthood. I spent hours climbing trees and exploring in the woods with my siblings and the neighbor kids. My brother and I played with our Beanie Babies and created a world for them to inhabit in our imaginations (we continued to do this even through most of our teenage years). I was content to be a kid and let the adults deal with logistics and issues that came up. Many of my friends were eager to grow up, find new acquaintances, get a job, start a family, etc, but for me, it was enough to read and play.

It was a precious time for me, and I'm glad that I had such a great family who encouraged me and loved me all through my childhood.

It's weird to think that I'm leaving that era behind me now, as I make the transition into adulthood at last. I still don't feel ready to step out on my own, but I need to trust Jesus to guide and protect me as I follow his call for my life.

God willing, I'll find a college that feels right to me and I'll start the next stage of my education surrounded by Christian peers and mentors. I'll always love my family --they're my best friends-- but I know that I'm destined to eventually follow a new path, perhaps I'll start my own family someday (although that's really hard to imagine right now!)

So, as I take a deep breath and step into another year of life and growth, I'm turning my thoughts to the future and how I can use these next years to glorify God with my life as an adult.

Soli Deo Gloria!

7 comments:

Galadriel said...

Congradulations. I've totally felt that way sometimes

hazel marie said...

It must be a home-school thing, feeling older and yet younger. I feel that way a lot.
Happy birthday, I'm sure you'll go far :)

God's blessings on your future.
-Gwyn

DTH Rocket said...

Yeah, I don't feel like an adult yet either. I'll probably start feeling like an adult around 19 or 20.

~Daniel

Hannah Nicole said...

Happy Birthday, Evergreena! I understand what you mean--and sometimes feel that way too; but it's different for me, being me, just as it's different for you, as you're you. Ha! Hopefully you know what I mean. Everyone's different so we all can have similarities, but we have our own life-experiences. So even though the same thing might have happened to me and you, we'd have different takes on it being that we're different girls. We're different people. Ya know. Okay, done rambling...

Have you thought of the AFLC bible college? That's where I'm hoping to go for a year after I graduate. Here's a link: https://www.aflbs.org/

God Bless, ya, sweet friend!
--Hannah

Eldarwen said...

Happy early birthday, Evergreena! :D

Ian said...

I know what you mean about feeling younger. I felt the same way after graduating a few months ago...I still do, actually.

Life is odd...you expect that the future will feel so different when you're a kid, and then you find out that you're just still...well....you. :P

:)Ian(:

Anonymous said...

Believe Him, because what is impossible with men everything is impossible for God