I thought about you this morning.  I prayed for you, too,  Then I thought about some things that I want you to know about life. These are some things your Daughters need to know, as well.

Here are some Life Lessons that you need to know for Stepfamily and Family of Origin:

Explore.  Don’t stay in one place, get out into the world and see the wonder in it.  Even on the tallest mountaintop you cannot see the world.  You must get out of your room, get away from the television and computers and walk in it. Walk on the mountains, and kick off your shoes and play in the rivers that are in the valleys.

Go to new places.  Try new food.  Try new ways to exercise.  Hike through new places.  Whatever is in front of you that is good, take joy in trying.

Take wisdom with you as you go; and, gain new wisdom as you experience life.

Don’t be afraid of mistakes.  Mistakes are like dancing in the rain with an umbrella.  You can protect yourself from some of the wet, but sooner or later you will get wet.  But don’t let that keep you from dancing in the rain.  There can be great joy in dancing in the rain.

Just because a boy, or man, says he loves you doesn’t mean he is “the One”.  Guys can say they love you and probably mean it at the time.  But they can get over it.

Wait for God to reveal the right man.  The right man will be imperfect in ways that compliment your imperfections.  He will desire you with great passion, pursue you,  protect your reputation and guard you.

Protect you skin.  Wear sunscreen.  Men become distinguished with wrinkles.  Women must plan ahead for old age by caring for themselves early in life.

There will always be mean girls.  Take care of your emotional health and do not become one of the mean girls.

Do not hang out with them.  You become like those you hang around. I wish I could protect you from them, but having to navigate through them will wound you, but it will also make you a stronger person.  Come home for support.  We have all been hurt by the mean ones.  Home is where you are loved.

Read you Bible and spend time with God each day.  You become like the one you hang around.

Your life is like a sailboat, your parents are your anchor and sail – God is the wind.  You have control of the rudder, steer well.

Remember the lesson learned on the Lake.  When another boat causes you to sail in the rough waters of its wake, turn and face the rough water, and cut right through.

Don’t fear the wake of another.

Talk to yourself often and to God.  Talk to those you see on the street and listen more than you speak.  Here is where wisdom can be gained.

Speak kindly to yourself.  Your Self will always believe the worst before it believes the good.  Practice telling your Self the good.

 Practice believing the good about yourself.

There is a lot of bad in this broken world, but practice finding Good.

Say, “Thank you” often – to God, to people, to the birds who sing outside your window. 

“Thank you” helps you to see the good.

Eat a little chocolate each day. It helps.

Don’t try to look like the women in the magazines.  Try to live healthy by eating healthy food – Real food not packaged.  At least once, eat peas right out of your garden with your bare feet in the tilled earth.

Never stop exercising everyday.

Love the way you look.  Love your body, with thick legs, or extra thin legs – learn that you were created perfectly.

Learn that even the things you call imperfections or faults, God calls perfectly made.  He made you exactly this way for a reason.  Love the way you are.

Everything happens for a reason.  Even when bad happens, God has a plan for good.  We may never understand most things, this side of heaven.

Even when you get to heaven, you might not have the answers, because once you are with Christ and reunited with those you went to heaven first, the “whys” might not matter anymore.

Practice peace.

But, really, get from in front of the electronics and live.

I love you more than you know.

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Diane W. Bailey

Diane W. Bailey is the founder of The Consilium – an online community of wisdom and purpose for women over 45 years of age. She is a published author. Her books include String of Pearls – From Tears to Treasure, and 30 Days To A Better Stepfamily. She creates her own line of precious metals bracelets. Diane lives in the Deep South with her husband Doc. Together they have created a stepfamily, each having two stepchildren and two birth children, and share three grandchildren, one black lab named Charlie and one long haired tabby cat named Lil Girl. Diane’s passion is to encourage women to be all God has created them to be by pressing past fear and daring to live life as an adventure. Some of her life adventures include traveling to Israel, speaking, entrepreneurship and backyard farming with Doc. She loves Gumbo, fried shrimp and seeing all sunsets across water.

Latest posts by Diane W. Bailey (see all)

• What God Can Do with A Shattered Heart - September 5, 2022
• When It Is Time to Bring Your Ship Ashore - January 2, 2018
• Art Of Hospitality – How to Love Others As Ourselves - November 27, 2017

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