I'm Watching You

I found this post that I had shared in another blog I used to have a while ago. One of those embarrassing, middle school, pre-facebook "share my every day's activities" blogs. Anyway. This also is from an article in the Sisterhood Magazine. (Again, I highly recommend checking it out)

It doesn't matter your age, everyone has someone else that looks up to them. This subject is so important right now. It's not the shortest article, but God really laid this on my heart to share with you all. We all need to be open to the things that the younger generation are struggling with.

Hi. I'm Megan.
   I'm growing like crazy, and the changes in my body totally make me self-conscious.
   I love to sleep.
   I'm battling mood swings that can frighten a bear out of hibernation, and I often express myself through outbursts of anger. But I'm also terrified-and to cover that up-I pretend I'm much stronger than I am.
   I'm only 11. And this is where you come in! I know your older than me, and I want you to know that I need you. It seems like I crave encouragement, support and love-the unconditional kind. So when I try to hang around you, its' because I'm watching you. See, I know you remember what it's like to be 11. And because you're turning out OK, I figure I can learn by your actions.
   My friends are really important to me. So is my freedom. I get lost in my day-sometimes I can't tell the difference between 5 minutes or 50 minutes. I daydream a lot too.
   I like to sew, paint and write in my journal. My little brothers drive me mad, but I love them like crazy. I'm interested in spiritual things, but a lot of what happens at church and what I read in my Bible, doesn't make sense to me...at least not yet.
   You remember this stuff, right? You were here. So you also know that I am a sponge! I soak in everything I see and hear, especially what I notice in teenage girls-girls just like you. Again,  I'm watching you.
   So I want you to know how powerful your life is! Have you ever thought about the opportunity you have to shape the life of young girls like me? It's crazy-huge! the way you choose to live your life is most likely the way my friends and I will choose to live our lives...so please...choose wisely.
   A while ago my dad asked me to make a list of the characteristics I think are important in being a role model. I think he was hoping I might find someone your age who could help me to become who God wants me to be. I think he also wanted me to know what kind of a person I'll need to be to shape the lives of younger girls when I'm your age. Anyway, here's what I came up with
   I want to be a teen girl who...

• has a positive self-image. I hope I don't look to the world for my worth, but instead remember that I'm a child of God and created in His image.

• respects authority. I hope I'll be someone who chooses to allow the people who are there to guide me (like my parents, teachers and coaches) to actually guide me.

• serves others first. I want to be a person who leads with love. I don't want love to be secondary in my life. I want it to be the first thing that comes out of me.

• is trustworthy. I want people to know they can believe in me because I fulfill my promises, keep secrets and am completely honest. 

• is always teachable. I hope I'm a person who never thinks I know everything but can learn from everyone-even people who are younger than me or people I don't really know very well.

• is committed to social causes. I hope that I'm a person who actively words to right the wrongs in the world.

• admits when I'm wrong. I want to be the kind of person who can admit when I've made a mistake or that I'm wrong when I am-and asks for forgiveness.

• is truthful. I pray that I'm always truthful, because lies are damaging and can destroy friendships. 

• is committed to living green. I want to increase my passion for this world to become a healthier place. As a future mentor or role model to others, I want to be a person who cares about all of God's creation.

• seeks holiness. I want to please God with my life, and I hope I'm a person who values love and purity.

• seeks peace. I want to be a person who tries to make peace and finds ways to bring people together by showing their similarities instead of their opposing views and different opinions.

• is a role model and has a role model. I want to always have someone to look up to. I think anyone who wants to be a role model should have a role model from whom to learn, grow and be shaped.

 My Plea:
I don't know how you see yourself, but maybe the list of traits above will help you evaluate your life. Remember, I (and other girls just like me) am watching you. We all want to be just like you when we get older. I hope you'll show us how to live in the right way, so we can be powerful role models for others someday. 

I hope this has opened your eyes, as it did mine, to what we should act like not only around those younger than us, but around everyone. Please share this, we need to be the generation that seeks God's wisdom in all that we do, in all that we say. We need to be the ones to help those younger than us, so that when they are in our shoes, they'll know what to do.
Even if you don't know many younger than you right now, you can do so much even by lifting them up in prayer, as well as your peers, that they would rise up and be the children of God that He asks us to be.