Dear Little Girl

You have found yourself down an undesirable road, and now you feel it's the only road possible for you to keep following. You are hurt and have been for so long that you don't remember what it was like to not feel that way. You have rejected the love given to you so much that you were forced to seek it out in other places. You gave away things you can give away only once. You live in such a shadow that the cold has made you numb.

But it doesn't have to be like that, little girl.

I have been down that road. I remember what it was like to be so depressed it hurt. I remember wanting to do nothing but rebel against all I knew in my heart to be true because rebelling was the easy thing at the time. But it did not satisfy. It only pushed me deeper into despair. I cast my own shadow and then forced myself to live under its weight of unrealistic expectations and out of control fears. To return to the correct path seemed to be too much effort, and I was so, so tired. I made choices I regret to this day. I made choices that have consequences I still deal with today. But only I made those choices. No one else did by their seeming over-protectiveness or oppression to my freedom.

Little girl, do you know how I made it back on the right path? I realized the selfishness in my ways. I realized I was miserable because I was living for myself. I believed I was a good person and because of that I could be around those throwing their lives away with bad decisions. It was nothing but arrogance. Yes, it was hard to get back. Yes, it took more effort than I thought I had. But do you know where I got my strength?

From the very place you are running.

When I was a little girl, I was taught that God would never leave me or forsake me, but I felt that He had. In reality, I had left Him. When I was a little girl, God seemed powerful enough to do anything, but I felt I had grown up to the point that this was unrealistic. In reality, He is bigger than my mind can fathom. It was only when I put my beliefs in myself away and surrendered that I was able to begin climbing out of the depression. It was only after I threw away religion and found a relationship. A relationship with God that never disappoints. Notice I did not say never hard, but it never disappoints.

Little girl, I tell you this because I love you, and I haven't told you I love you enough. Little girl, I tell you this because I am sad about the choices you have made. I know I could not have stopped you, but I did not warn you as I should have. For that, I am sorry. But, little girl, do not tarry down this road too much longer. Every day you walk this way, the more scars it leaves.

Take it from me, little girl, for I could show you my scars.