Don't look down on me

[Kabowd]

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12

In many ways I am just the typical teenage girl. I love to shop, listen to music and hang out with my friends. I'm accident prone, am frequently known to put my foot in my mouth, I get song lyrics wrong so I make up my own, and I have terrible timing. My military trained grandfather gets annoyed when I come to breakfast in my pajamas and if I fail to say "sir" after every single phrase. My brother tells me I argue like some of the finest defense attorneys he's ever seen (and he's known plenty), but he's not saying that to compliment me But besides all of that, I'm also a girl who is intrigued by Scripture, especially the original text and trying understand meanings of Greek/Hebrew words. I love history, I love studying and often spend hours literally pouring through biblical commentaries, and various translations to better understand something that God is teaching me. I guess I just love words...especially those inspired by God.

It sounds harmless enough (aside from my typical teenage flaws) but apparently there is little to no grace for people like me anymore. I know that my generation has it's faults, huge ones, but where are those who are setting an example for us? Why is it that when someone like me puts forth an effort to seek and learn, we are often shot down, ridiculed and criticized and never given credit for even having hearts that desire to know truth?

Trust me, I know I'm not perfect. I get in trouble nearly everyday for something I've said or done, and I'm reminded I have a long ways to go. But it's honestly very very discouraging that so many adults seem to cut me (and others like me) down, instead of trying to build us up. I understand when those who are very close to me break my pride and rebuke me with love...because they also build me up and restore me afterwards. What I don't understand is when complete strangers attempt to assess my heart...in fact my entire life....based on a small portion of my behavior.

It's troubling to me that a young person can't even post on a christian forum without being ridiculed harshly, judged, harrassed and scorned over silly, simple things. I've posted for 3 years at a student site and have rarely seen the harshness I've experienced here from adults. It's sad. And few things are as painful as being wounded by those who are supposed to be "family". Harsh words from unbelievers is expected and not as piercing, but when they come from those who claim the same faith ... it cuts like a knife.

I'm not posting this for sympathy. In fact, one thing I wanted to do is thank a few people publicly for encouraging me in my faith. Saved by Grace (Mr. Wayne), catsmeow, Imamom, shiloh, Super Jew, Ovedya and several others are often speaking words of kindness over me and I thrive on it. That's not to say that some of them are not also there to correct me when I am wrong. Super Jew and Mr. Wayne are especially familiar with straightening me out when I've stepped over the line...lol. So sympathy or special treatment is not what this post is about.

I guess what I'm asking is for those who are more mature in the faith to set an example for younger believers like me. When we are wrong, correct us in love and show us some grace. Expect great things out of us and believe in us...but don't hold us to an unrealistic standard of perfection...or one that you don't attempt to live up to yourself. Remember we are the next generation of godly leaders, and we need people like you to show us the way.

~Tess

[WayneB]

Tess,

Ya' know what I think? Naw, you know what I KNOW without any doubt? I KNOW that the Lord uses you wonderfully and will continue to use you MIGHTILY. I know you well enough that what you wrote was direct from your heart and that you weren't fishing for anything but to speak the truth. I find you refreshing and young folks like you. YOU reflect well on those who raised you (your brother in your case), your generation and your Master & Lord.

You reflect the love of Christ and I am anxious to see how the Lord IS going to use you according to HIS purpose.

May the Lord Bless you richly,

Wayne

OTHERS: Read what Tess wrote closely and spend some time meditating on it. All of us can learn from what she speaks of, which is that we should all consider, pray and practice the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) & the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5) and our words should ALWAYS reflect Christ and His glory.

[nebula]

Awww, Tess!

I for one have been very impressed by your knowledge and zeal for the Lord.

Unfortunately, message boards tend to be a bit impersonal. It's easy to lose sight of the person behind the words.

I hope I haven't said anything to hurt you.

Really, I've been missing your posts.

[apothanein kerdos]

Definately a good post.

[Kabowd]

Thank you so much. You all are reasons this forum is still worth coming to.

[eric]

Definately a good post.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Tess, for what it's worth I have to agree with SJ. I know when you first came on the boards about a year ago, we locked horns over an issue, but yesterday is dead and gone and tomorrow is aout of sight, as the song goes and it's always time to move on. As a teenager I respect your tenacity, your courage and conviction of your belief and words and the style in which you present them. The same goes for SJ as well. When you get to know where people are coming from, you get a better picture of what they are like. I tend you be a bit stubborn, sometimes but that is part of the aging process.

I'm at the other end of the scale to you and people tend to to take the older folk like me, with a grain of salt and consider them over the hill or have lost a few marbles and in their dotage and your posts get ignored, but that is not true. I still have all my faculties and my mind is as sharp as it was forty years ago.

So thank you for the post little lady, I think you are a spark of brightness and delight.

YBIC,

eric

[Kabowd]

Thank you Mr. Eric, that means alot. By the way...what are faculties and why do you still have them? I thought that was employees at schools or something.

[Matthitjah]

God Bless you Tess.

Peace,

Dave

[eric]

Lol, Tess, I'm eric with a little (e) and had nothing to do with Noah's ark thread, but if I had have, I'd would have endorsed evrything you said.. I suppose you could say faculties are the brains that God blessed you with

in Him,

eric, little e.

[Kabowd]

Lol, Tess, I'm eric with a little (e) and had nothing to do with Noah's ark thread, but if I had have, I'd would have endorsed evrything you said..

I know which one you are

  I suppose you could say faculties are the brains that God blessed you with

in Him,

eric, little e.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Haha...oops. Wrong faculties. I was wondering why you had school staff with you...lol.