I'm not a big reader- it's not something that I'm proud of and am doing my best to change as I get older, but it's still a fact. However, I really enjoyed reading this book by Marian Edelman where she tells about the important life lessons she learned growing up and is now passing on to her own children. In the book, she is writing a letter to her son on his 21st birthday and since I am currently 21, I couldn't help but pay even MORE attention to her advice and "Twenty-five Lessons for Life". There were a few of the life lessons that really stood out to me, probably because they are so similar to how I've been raised by my parents and my Christian community. I won't share every single one that I agree with- just the ones that made the strongest impact on me:
1.) There is no free lunch. Don't feel entitled to anything you don't sweat and struggle for. This lesson has been something that I've been taught for as long as I can remember- "If you don't work you don't eat", "The best things in life are what cost you something", "You reap what you sow". I truly believe that this is a major problem for our generation because we DO believe we are entitled to things that we haven't worked for ourselves. I'm thankful that my parents have continually kept me grounded in the Word of God which clearly speaks to this aspect of always doing your best so you can enjoy the fruit of your labor.
2.) Set goals and work quietly and systematically toward them. I'm naturally one of those people who sets goals and loves working hard to achieve them; I'm also one of those people who loves gaining recognition and broadcasting all of the great things that I've accomplished. What really hit me with this lesson is the "quietly" portion of the lesson and she described it perfectly in her last sentence: "You know what you do and the Lord knows what you do and that's all that matters."
12.) Never give up. Three simple little words hold so much power and have had such a major impact in my life. From playing sports to handling some of the most difficult decisions in my life, choosing to never give up and keep fighting has become a lot more than just a phrase to me. I couldn't agree more with the importance of this lesson in the lives of young adults because life is full of hard times and times where the only thing you can imagine doing is quitting. I'm so blessed to have my relationship with the Lord which gives me the strength to never give up. I'm also unbelievably thankful to have parents and friends who would never let me give up even if I tried- having that support system is such a treasure and is a truly rare commodity.
17.) Choose your friends carefully. Sadly this is a life lesson that I've had to learn the hard way. Friends are a very important part of life- who your friends are say a lot about who you are as a person. Even though I've had a lot of friends through life, I'm so thankful for the ones that have lasted and that have helped mold me into the person that I am today.
22.) You are in charge of your own attitude. This is a lesson I've learned a lot later in life but it is so important because of the truth that it holds. There are so many things that will happen in your life that you have absolutely no control over, but what you do have control over is how you respond to each circumstance. I am a full believer that it's the hard times that tell you what kind of person you are and being able to CHOOSE to make the most of a horrible situation that you don't have control over shows a lot of character- character I'm striving hard to work in my own life.
25.) Always remember that you are never alone. There really is no better life lesson than this in my opinion. As a Christian, this statement is the foundation for my life: "nothing can separate me from the love of God". There is really nothing more to life than that because that's our purpose for living- to love and serve God with all of our hearts. I can also completely relate to the fact that my parents are behind me and supporting me 100% no matter what. My dad is my biggest fan and supporter and he has always made it absolutely clear to me and both my sisters that he will always be here for us- praying for us and doing the best he can to make sure we become the best that we can for the Lord. That means more to me than all the monetary and natural gifts he could ever give me!
I had never heard of Marian Wright Edelman until this book, but I'm really thankful I was able to gleam a little bit of wisdom from her life lessons.
