Keepsake Letter to a Pre-teen

See the Letters series here

  
My Dear Child, 

Congratulations! You are about to become a teenager. As you prepare to make this grand transition, here is an important 'life tip' we learn from growing crops.  

Whenever a seed is planted in the ground and covered up with dirt, it first has to die. Laying there in the darkness, hidden from view, the chemistry in the dirt around the seed tries its best to kill the seed, crack open its hard shell, and reduce all its contents to the raw elements of dirt. As it dies, however, the DNA God placed inside that seed fights back, and starts to change the chemistry of the soil immediately around it! Then suddenly, inexplicably, as the seed's shell opens up, something inside that's alive starts to shoot downward, seeking food and water. Next, just as suddenly, something inside alive starts to shoot upward, pushing and fighting its way through the crusty soil, until it breaks through to the wonderful light and air above. 

Though the dirt tried its best to kill this seed and reduce its contents to dirt, it lost the battle, and ends up actually nurturing the DNA in that seed! The 'roots below and shoots above' thus provide the basis for that seed that was sown to become a mighty tree that can live and bear good fruit for hundreds of years!   

Now imagine with me that the seed is the good and Godly teachings your parents  lovingly and carefully planted into your heart and mind. Initially, as a child, you readily accepted them, just like the dirt accepted the planted seed. As you become a teenager, this seed will begin to DIE, seeming to be irrelevant to you and your new, teenage life. The world and its un-Godly influences will do their parts to help kill this seed inside you. However, God's Word is ALIVE forever, and will eventually accomplish the job He assigned to the 'DNA' in His Word seed, your parents faithfully planted inside you. It may take a long time; and you may end up having to experience a lot of hard bumps and bruises in your life, but trust me, because of my/our abiding faith in the seed carefully planted into your life, your life WILL eventually produce good fruit pleasing to God.

Just like a tree that grows and experiences rough seasons of floods, droughts, poor nutrients, being pruned, abused, etc., but eventually produces good fruit, so will you. That's life. But you have a choice of whether to fight against the seed already inside you, or to go with the flow. Trust me, I have lived L-O-N-G and learned well....it’s easier to learn to go with God’s flow! May you likewise learn this important lesson.

Always remember I love you and will be with you in spirit throughout this and all other transitions of your life, come what may.  

Love