Dear Teenager,

Dear Young Person,

I know I am getting old, but really... I do know what you are going through. I lived through your temperamental age and I had the same pressures you do. Drugs, sex, ditching class... trying to be cool (or whatever they call it now).

We were pressured to be THAT person.... the one with the perma-boy/girlfriend... the martyr... the suicidal... the rescuer... the shocker... the geek... the prep... the jock... the partier...

You will get past it. None of this will matter and you will be amazed how much time and energy you are wasting to be "whoever" you think you need to be to impress one or all of the people in your high school class.

Your parents are not supposed to be your "friends" when you are trying to test your boundaries, and believe it or not, they know what you are doing. Every little bit. They are just picking their battles or trying to make sure they don't push you to make worse decision than you already are. They know exactly how you think.

Believe in yourself and try to look to the future.
You don't need to impress me
You don't need to shock me
You don't need to like me and
You don't need to be liked by me

Because you stepped into my life,
whether for a minute
or
for your lifetime,

and
I'll pray for you
because
I love you
because
God loves you.