Meghan R.

Dear 16 year old Meghan,

You’re going to be really upset with you parents come September. Your time as a swimmer is up, they are not letting you swim anymore and you won’t understand why. It’s going to feel like a huge part of you is dead, you won’t know who you are anymore, and you’re going to cry a lot. Listen to those around you who understand. Celia and Kass will help you get through it. But you have to know that even though it feels like one of the worst things that has every happened to you, it’s for the best. God has better things in store for you. Those girls you loved and swam with are going to do things that will break your heart and you’ll realize how glad you are that you aren’t swimming. He gives you the opportunity to open your world to something new: coaching. You’re going to have two little girls that brighten your day. They will be apart of your life for a long time. They are the start of a new passion for you. A few years down the road you’ll be truly in love with coaching. And you’ll get one more amazing chance to swim - with new teammates and old. It’s the best feeling and it’s just what you need in your second year of university (you get to stay with Brant because you go to Laurier Brantford to pursue another passion - teaching!) It’s going to feel really, really awful for the first few months, but girl, you have great things in store! Staying with synchro, even if not as a swimmer, you will create friendships that will last forever. Maddie will make you die laughing, Cara will become a treasured friend, and Steph will be there when you make the worst mistakes and help you through new steps of life. Just because you don’t see God’s great plan on the night your parents tell you, know that he really truly has a plan. You get to coach, you get to be a youth leader, you gain confidence (especially from your French Drama class with the best teacher ever- you’ll be her babysitter eventually!), and you’ll have time to yourself to grow in other ways.

Soon after that, you’re going to meet the man of your dreams. You won’t want to admit it, and you’re going to avoid it. People won’t understand why or how you two came to be. He doesn’t seem like someone who loves God like you do, but he does! Kass will push you to give it a try, and I promise you won’t regret it. You’ll realize he’s the man God made just for you. Don’t be scared to love him or to tell him you do, he loves you like he loves Jesus! Cherish every minute you have with him and his family right now because once you’re out of high school you won’t have very much free time.

Read God’s word often, he has a special message for you. Especially Jeremiah 29:11. Remember that always.