Sixteenth Birthday

Today is my sixteenth birthday, an odd day in my mind.

 It's that "coming of age" birthday that I remember looking at as a little child with wonder and excitement. Not being able to wait until that day was finally here, and here it is. For me, I feel like I'm finally growing up. Being someone who generally got along with people much older than I, I'm used to being the baby in my circles of friends and acquaintances. This birthday is seriously the first that I haven't been somewhat ashamed of my age. I'm sixteen. I can soon drive(alone). I'm taking 12 college credits plus 2 VHS classes. I'm going to start working. I'm preparing my art portfolio for college. I'm a big kid!

 After a rather rough year, I'm excited for this fresh start and new adventure. Excitement for this next year is at a super high. Something inside of me simply hopes for an amazing year. Last year was the toughest of my life and there was so much in it that was brutally painful. But this year is a clean slate. It's a gessoed canvas just waiting for me to put my strokes upon it.

 But beyond my plans, there are One who's plans are infinitely better. Christ holds my itty bitty life in His hands and He knows my year from today through 365 days from now. He's my author and perfecter. Nothing He does is in vain. And even as much as I disliked many things in the last year, He taught me so much and made me so aware to the simple blessings in life. 

 As I've pondered the past year and the year to come, these verses come to mind. 

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

   neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.

 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

   so are my ways higher than your ways

   and my thoughts than your thoughts."

        Isaiah 55:8-9

He's above. Above all my plans, hopes, dream, the future, the past, the present. He is perfection and even though sometimes I can't see what in the world He's doing, somewhere I know that it's good. It's very good. 

 So here's to a good year. The past and the future one. Because as long as God is the one writing my life, it's going to be a crazy adventure and all I can do is hold on tight.