Disposed Of Girlhood

"Twenty is a horrid age, so final; it puts a period to one's girlhood and drags one across the line of being entirely grown up."

On the Tuesday last, I crossed the line of "being entirely grown up". Instead of seeing the event of my passing girlhood as punctuated by a dreary period mark, I feel it deserves an exclamation!!!
To name a few reasons for this right of passage... I survived puberty, high school prom, awkward 90's fashion trends and, thankfully, made it through without broken bones or needing to visit the orthodontist for braces.

!!!!!!!

On a serious note:

Looking back upon my girlhood, I think of the hardships that broke me down and seemed impossible to survive. The pain made no sense at the time, but in retrospect I see those times brought me back to the promises in Scripture. There is difficulty ahead of me, and I know the lessons learned already have prepared me for what is yet to come.
I discovered my "life-verse" when I was 14 years old, and I have clung to it ever since.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." ~John 16:33

Now, as I happily (and finally, if I might add) conclude my teenage years, I am excited to begin this journey and see where the 20-somethings will lead me.

Living life can seem like a daunting task to me, but peace comes from the fact that I know Who I live for and why. I've so much yet to experience, I know, and this scares me at times, but I hope that I'm up for it!

If you haven't caught on by now, I really like to use poems and quotes when I write. Perhaps this is because it seems so much easier to use others' brilliant words to make my points.

"How Did You Die?" by Edmund Vance Cooke

Did you tackle that trouble that came your way
With a resolute heart and cheerful?
Or hide your face from the light of day
With a craven soul and fearful?
Oh, a trouble's a ton, or a trouble's an ounce
Or a trouble is what you make it.
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only how did you take it?

You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what's that?
Come up with a smiling face.
It's nothing against you to fall down flat,
But to lie there- that's disgrace.
The harder you're thrown, why the higher you bounce
Be proud of your blackened eye!
It isn't the fact that you're licked that counts
It's how did you fight and why?

And though you be done to earth, what then?
If you battled the best you could;
If you played your part in the world of men,
Why, the Critic will call it good.
Death comes with a crawl or comes with a pounce
And whether he's slow or spry,
It isn't the fact that you're dead that counts,
But only, how did you die?