Whether you’re 13, 25 or 42, you will always be my baby sister and here is a letter to you:

You have a heart of pure gold, and more kindness in the tip of your finger than some have in their whole body. I admire how helpful and selfless you are. It’s a lesson I continually learn from watching you. One lesson I hope you learn, and not the hard way but from my past mistakes, is this world will not always be kind in return. This world is going to throw you into storm after storm and it will not be easy but never let the hurt, pain, or suffering ever dull even an ounce of the shine you carry with you wherever you go. Continue to be the good the world can find when it seems to be so distant.

I know at a point in time being the good and kind girl you are is going to become too much. You're going to feel as if you cannot continue to smile or push through. But here is my advice: drop to your knees, sweet child, and pray for the strength and courage to keep smiling. After you’re done go ahead and give me a call because I know a hug and some ice cream won’t fix everything but they can dang sure make it all just a little bit better.

Girl you have some attitude and I’m afraid it’s a lesson you have learned a little too well from me, but never stop using it. Stand up for what you believe in and fight for what is right. Life is sometimes going to tell you “no” but if you believe in yourself, well, that’s all you need. Dream dreams bigger and higher than most people dare. Live each day in an effort to chase them down because the only person who could ever stand in the way of you and your dreams is yourself, trust me I’ve been there.

Always find a reason to laugh. It is such a contagious and cheerful sound that just thinking about your giggle makes me smile. Always find a reason to make those you around you smile. Your jokes are hysterical and the clever one-liner's you shoot off without thinking twice make you who you are. Never stop being the goofy little girl you are.

Always remember, baby girl, you are important and special in every way. You have been fearfully and wonderfully made by Our Father above and he loves you more than any of us down here could even begin to. You have been created to complete a plan and purpose only you can fulfill...He made you unique. Unique means you won’t always look like the girls on TV or in the magazines. Unique means sometimes when you look in the mirror you aren’t always going to like what you see. Let me always be the first to remind you that in every way possible you are so beautiful-more beautiful than you’ll believe.

In that moment when you stand in front of the mirror, telling yourself you don’t like what you see or when you’re scrolling through all forms of social media wishing you had her eyes or her body or her hair, I want you to repeat this verse in your head over and over until you believe what it is saying:

“You are altogether beautiful, my darling, there is no flaw in you” Song of Solomon 4:7

God made you in his image, how awesome is that! He is as flawless as it gets and if you were created to reflect him then, sweetheart, your beauty shines.

I am not naive, I know there will be times when you love how you were made and how you look but remember, a beautiful soul will always win against a beautiful face. For every minute you spend perfecting your appearance by applying makeup or finding the perfect outfit please spend twice as long working to perfect who you are, your goals and ambition, your kindness and gentleness. Maybe spend some time dealing with the ‘tude, Lord knows you could use the help.

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:3-4

Never change who you are based on what this world believes you should be.

Never allow someone else to make you feel as if what I’m telling you isn’t true.

I know you’re not perfect because none of us are, and I know that through your journey you will make mistakes, some bigger than others and some smaller. Make sure you learn from the mistakes and make a change. Don’t walk through the same self-inflicted fire twice because the burn hurts twice as bad.

You are in charge of the choices you make so forget blaming anyone else for where those choices get you. I pray you never wander too far off of the path you have set yourself up to walk down but if for some reason you find yourself in a darker place than normal remember-you are never too far gone for Our Lord to save you and I will never be far behind.

Boys will always have cooties. Please, please, please, if you don’t remember anything else from this letter just remember this line.

You are beautiful, my sweet girl, inside and out. No matter how dark today seems, the sun will always come out tomorrow. Thank you for being the young lady you are and I hope you never feel the need to change. I will always love you more.