Little Girl

Dear Little Girl,

I’m addressing you as “little”,  because let’s face it… you’re the shortest one in your class and won’t hit 95 pounds until you’re almost 16. Also, because I’m what I’d like to think of as the older, wiser, still shorter than most, 30-something version of you and I wanted to tell you something… If I could have written you a letter when I think you would have needed it most, it may have gone something like this.

It’s gonna get rough this year. I know Summer was great, but 6th grade can be a doozy. I mean things are never really that easy for a 12 year old girl anywhere, and even though you’ll feel utterly alone… you are not. When you show up to school with your new haircut and the boys all laugh at you… just know that is one quality you’ll never give up ~ your unique sense of style. You’ll always love your crazy hair and you’ll change it’s color with every shifting season. At some point in your 20’s it’ll be purple & pink and you won’t bat an eye at those who spew nasty remarks. There’s a confidence you’ll gain… You’ve already met the person who gave it to you, but it’ll take some time for you to wear it properly.

This year you’ll lose your best friend too. Remember the key chain? She’ll give it back, refuse to speak to you, warn all your other friends to avoid you and remove you from the clique’s lunch table. No explanation… just one cold word. Sorry.

It’s so awful, I wish I could be there at the bus stop just to hug you and whisper into your ear the love you deserve. You’ll be the last picked for every game at recess this year, sometimes your classmates will even pretend you’re not there and just start the game without you. They’ll throw food at you in the cafeteria, call you names, target you in gym class, bully you and mistreat you.

Even through all this, I want you to remember to be Fearless. I’d love to have been in the Math class with you as the boy behind you threw spit balls at the back of your head. The giggles, the sneering, the teasing and taunting… I’d go back and hold your hand if I could, but then how would you become brave? I’d wipe each tear from your eye as you sat indoors, volunteering for detention rather than face the play-yard torment. I’d look you in the eyes and tell you that you are beautiful. I’d tell you what a wonderful life God had planned for you… I’d give you a sneak peak of that confidence I told you about. Remember that one I said was a bit too big for you to wear yet?

Well in just a few months time you’ll meet a Missionary. Yes, a real live missionary to Cambodia! Though you have almost no clue of what that entails she will enchant you with her heart wrenching stories and the God whisper will begin to speak. A call to the nations will be birthed in a tiny Sunday School room at the Christian Missionary Alliance church. Your purpose revealed. It will grip you so terribly that it alters your life course, as you’ll determine to follow His voice. See, you have met the one who’ll give you that confidence. You met him when you were 4 and he introduced himself as Emmanuel- God With Us. You met him again when you were 10 and he introduced himself as Holy Spirit- Comforter & Guide.  He gave you a special prayer language and see, He is the one who whispered your name…

This school year won’t be easy. But by next Summer you’ll feel like a completely different person. Oh and in 2 years time, you’ll be friends again with those who hurt you so deeply… so learn to forgive. Learn to love without agenda. People will need your love, they’ll need you to listen without judging and they’ll need forgiveness too. Brynn, by the time you’re 18 you’ll have traveled to 4 nations, stood on the Earth’s equator line marked in Ecuador, climbed the Great Wall of China, helped build a church with your hands in Mexico, hugged orphans and fed the hungry in Venezuela. You’ll lead people to Jesus through your smile, so learn to smile again. You will never quit. By the time you are 30 you will have faced many obstacles in life and had many victories, remember you’re not the only one who has had challenges.

To the other little girls who may not be so little anymore… this is for you. You are brave. You belong. You are a fearless warrior. You are beautiful. You are an overcomer. You lead. You are full of dignity and honor. Your Maker is madly in love with you, for He created you in His image and likeness. You’re NOT sub-par. You are wonderful. You are radiant. You are gloriously splendid and full of light. There is no one else in this world like you… there never could be. You have a unique imprint to leave on the world. Dear little girl who may be hurting now, you were born to be a champion. Dear brave one, don’t give up… you were meant to shine.

Love, Brynn

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

** Leave a comment below if you have ever faced bullying and what you did… How did you react and did you learn to forgive?  Share with a friend if you think this will encourage them.