Wednesday, August 06, 2008

When You Were 19...

What do you wish you knew?

Please answer...even if you were 19 just last year! Guys, you can answer this too.

Why am I asking this? Well, I went to the "Do Hard Things" conference a couple weekends ago and Brett and Alex Harris encouraged us to ask people who are older what they wish they knew when they were our age. So, please leave a comment letting me know what you wish you knew when you were 19. If you want to take it even farther, I have asked some people what their life looked like at age 19 (what were they doing and learning, where were they spiritually, who were they hanging with, what were there dreams) and that has also been neat. Some were in very similar circumstances, others not. Also, if you were single when you were 19, is there anything you wish you had done differently in that season? Or, if you are now married and look back on your life as a single and see that you used it wisely to serve the Lord, please add how you were able to do that (obviously it was all by God's grace, but were there specific things you read, heard, etc that helped?)

One more question for the women: What do you think are some "hard things" we are called to as women that men aren't? (If this doesn't make sense, just ask. I know that's probably Rebelution jargon, so if you need me to explain, I can.)

Thanks in advance for taking the time to think about and answer these questions!

8 comments:

Sacha said...

Sarah-
When I was 19, I was sure that marriage was just around the corner. I soon learned that this was not so.
I wish I knew then how great it is to be content in my singleness. This said I wasn't a pining type of girl, but just not as content as I could/should have been.
I also wish that I knew how much time I had! There is SOOO much you can do in College that you can't do once you have a job. Like have entire summers off! Take those summers to serve the Lord, do something fun that you've always wanted to do (don't worry about the money! you'll have that later in life ha ha!). : ) So that's my take!
Love you girl!

Anonymous said...

At 19, I felt there were a lot more opportunities to share the Gospel. At college, you are constantly meeting new people, building relationships. For me, my faith was becoming my own and the same was true for everyone around me. I didn't realize that stops as you get older...people get more set in their ways, you don't always meet new people as you did in college.
Next...what hard things women are called to - I think it is hard to have these desires to be married, have a family but realize that the guy is to take the initiative on that. There really isn't a way to act out on that desire, and it comes into a sweet time of surrender and trust before the Lord...but it is hard to lay those desires down.
Hope that helps! :)

Anonymous said...

When I turned 19 I was an intern at Home School Legal Defense Association in Va. It was a fabulous experience! I learned so much and made great friends I still have to this day. I am so glad I put off going to college one year to do this. Then, in the fall of my 19th year, I went to college in Nashville, TN.

When I was 19, I had no desire for marriage whatsoever, so this wasn't a struggle for me. I agree with Sacha, that I wish I'd done more during my summers off of college. Not sure if I could have, but I'd have tried harder. I paid my way through college, which also was a great experience, but I wish I'd have least taken one summer to go teach ESL in China or something like that, as it's always been something I've wanted to do, but have not yet done. I was always worrying about money, so that's why I usually spent the summer working. But now I realize, taking one summer to do something like serve in a foreign country wouldn't have really been a big deal or set me back a huge amount financially. So, that's my biggest thing I wish I could do over.

Libby said...

When I was 19, I wish I knew in my heart of hearts that my dad was for me! That his wisdom far surpassed mine, and I wish I knew enough to trust him and obey him fully. It would have saved a lot of heartache, especially in the area of relationships.

On a practical note, I wish I had've known to pursue special education and not a major that was worthless.

Unknown said...

At 19 with no thoughts of getting married, my husband came along and I couldn't help myself, I wanted him.
What I wish I had known? First that being a Christian meant complete surrender and forgetting fun, all the time fun that is.
I wish I had had a mother to prepare me for marriage, I just wanted to be with my husband. Now, 5 children and 63 years of wedded bliss later, I have learned a lot.
It didn't occur to me God had given me the right husband but now I can see that is exactly what happened.
Hope this is at least a partial answer for you.
Betty G

Anonymous said...

Thank you everyone for your insight and wisdom...it's so encouraging!

Leanne said...

I must say, I've been pondering my answer to your question ever since you posted it...not because I think I have anything spectacular to say, but because (when I did the math!) I was actually 19 when I was saved. So, the first half of being 19 was spent chasing the things of the world wholeheartedly. I'd love to say that the second half was completely different, but in truth, I couldn't explain what God had done, and I really struggled for a while between God and the world. It was definitely a time of unparalleled growth, like Kris said. So what do I wish I had known then? The gospel, primarily. I wish I'd understood the sovereignty of God over my future too.

Amy said...

Sarah--these other women are a lot better than me at being succinct :) I spent a little time last week journaling about being 19, but it was too long for a blog comment, so I emailed it to your mom--ask her to print it off for you or something!