We moved to East Bernard the summer before my sixth grade year. I didn't really know where it was, had gone to the same school since kindergarten, and was leaving my best friends. Needless to say I was not excited. After the first day of school, however, I found it wasn't going to be so bad. I giggled to myself as I made dinner tonight, thinking about junior high and high school. Here are a few random tidbits I thought about: We joined First Baptist Church, and I became pretty much the Baptist girl of my small class. I played sports for the first time and wasn't exactly a star athlete, but it was still fun (most of the time). I wouldn't say I was popular, but I had a good group of friends (some of whom I still keep in touch with today). I had really bad hair, complete with puffy bangs, wore braces for forever, and was super scrawny. We had to wear our shirts tucked in and a belt as part of the dress code, which is probably why I don't think I've worn a belt with jeans since 2001. Right before I turned 17 I got my grandpa's old Audi - the kind the dad drives in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The fan belt was messed up, causing it to squeal horribly when I accelerated so my friends lovingly nicknamed it "The Beast."And I was on the newspaper staff and even competed in UIL journalism. I even think I initially got my letter jacket from placing in the regional news writing contest. Lol...
I wonder how my life would be different had we not moved to EB. Now that I'm older I realize that moving there truly was a huge blessing. You see, when I was 14 I attended my very first youth camp with FBC and my life was forever changed. I had accepted Christ as a little girl, but like a lot of teenagers I had fallen away. At that camp, I realized I had a decision to make: I could truly follow Christ as my Lord or not. I decided at that moment that I wanted to serve the Lord for real.
Tonight as I watch the Brahmas (who are completely annihilating the other team by the way) and reminisce about high school, I wonder... did my friends and peers at EBHS see Jesus in me? I mean I spent a lot of nights at home because I didn't drink or party (and I was a bit of a homebody anyway), but did I actually tell people about the Lord and the hope I have in Him? I don't know. I remember very few conversations with people that were about Christ or the Gospel. Sure people knew that I was a Christian and knew me as a "goody goody," but was I bold for my Savior?
I don't know who even bothers to read this, but I pray that if you were there in the halls with me at EBHS that you saw Jesus in me. I pray that the teens of our youth group that Todd and I have the honor of leading are bolder than I was. I pray they will realize how fleeting high school is, that they don't "peak" there, that there's more to life than who they are within those walls. I pray they speak the name of Jesus with boldness and share his love with those who desperately need it. Look at our world... we're a big fat mess, and He's the answer.
And as I reminisce on those days of high school and I wonder if people saw Jesus in me, I also have to evaluate myself today and ask, "Do they see Jesus in me now?"
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| The only picture of me in HS that could find...I guess all the rest are at my parents'! On a mission trip the summer after I graduated. Who's the slightly chubby younger guy? That would be my now brother-in-law. Love you, Larry!! |