Dear Younger Me: A Journey of Restoration

by

Members of the Prison Fellowship Academy™ at the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Shakopee were assigned a project called "Dear Younger Me." This project asked the women to reflect on their lives and to address the issues and events that led them into criminal behavior. Today we’re sharing Meri’s letter to her younger self.

dear-younger-me

A JOURNEY OF RESTORATION

Dear Younger Me,

God has an exhilarating plan for your life.
You cannot serve two masters, for you will love one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24).

Let God guide your heart. Live in the moment—live well [and] laugh often. You deserve abundance and prosperity.

Stay true to yourself and loyal to family. Be a faithful servant to God. Praise Him even when things don’t go your way. He will always shine the light down the path and will never lead you on a journey of despair.

I never meant to hurt you; I paved the way of destruction because I felt insecure. Now, having experience and knowledge, I want you to know that you are worth it. Anything you put before God you will lose.

Don't you dare give up five minutes before the miracle happens. Find your strength in the Lord. You are a precious gem. I love you, so love yourself … and eat lots of pizza. It's delicious!

Meri

P.S. God has an exhilarating plan for your life.

ABOUT THE PRISON FELLOWSHIP ACADEMY

Located in select prisons across the country, the Prison Fellowship Academy takes men and women through a holistic life transformation spanning weeks and months, where they are mentored by Prison Fellowship® staff and volunteers to lead lives of purpose and productivity inside and outside of prison.

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