Reflecting on the year

Hi, readers! I’m 13! I can’t believe I’ve been blogging ever since I was eleven. So much has happened to me since then. I’ve lived in a third world country for 6 months, survived 6^th grade, (phew!!) and now, I am almost done with 7^th grade. It is really hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that I am almost an eighth grader. My spiritually journey throughout 7^th grade wasn’t NEARLY as interesting as my 6^th grade one! A few weeks ago, my Bible study leader asked us what we felt like our spiritual journey had been this past year.

I took some time to think about that, and realized that I haven’t really grown this year. I haven’t been the best sister, daughter, friend, and encourager that I could have been. On my watch, three kids IN MY GRADE left from bullying. And I was just… there. Almost oblivious to what was happening. And yet, I knew that it was wrong, but it’s so easy to not notice every single detail or be there all the time with someone. I guess I’m just trying to say that there is only so much one person can do. Even though I prayed for these people, God had a different plan. Even if I try to help, they can still just push me away.

I know that all that I’ve experienced, all my doubts, all my fears, all my victories, and all of the times that I made someone else feel wanted, have been for a reason. God has used me in so many ways this year, but I can see how some people would see my year as pretty uneventful. The Lord has used me in so many ways that I never thought possible and put me in just the right places at the right time. Even though my faith hasn’t really increased, I believed that I have helped others on their spiritual walks, which is something that I wouldn’t have been able to do as well at a public school.

I hope that this helps you to reflect on your year, and all the feelings that you have felt, and all the times when you weren’t quite sure what God was doing with you. Maybe, now you will understand that even though we will have trouble in the life, but it’s gonna be okay because God has had a plan for you for such a long time.

Tomorrow is my last Friday as an seventh grader, my last multicultural art class, my last lunch as a seventh grader, my last full day as a seventh grader, my last day using locker number 5061, my last day bringing a backpack to school as a seventh grader, and the last day I will listen to my history teacher’s crazy puns.

However, tomorrow is the first day I will live my life unburdened with the “what-ifs” of seventh grade. Tomorrow, my eyes will be opened, and I won’t let anything just slip past me, and if something does, I will just move on! I know that getting your 7^th grade yearbook signed is not the most important thing in the world, and my yearbook doesn’t even matter to God. Or my hair. Or my shoes, or my nails, or anything but my heart.

Love Always,

Jennifer Gash