dance like no ones watching,
sing like no ones listening.

I haven’t been living the “do hard things” concept really, although I wish I had gotten it a lot earlier. The things that could have changed! Anyway, I do have a hard time connecting with people my age, just for a different reason.

You seem more mature and “above” people your age because you were so sold out for God and experienced a lot of responsibility and grew in ways that most kids your age haven’t yet. In my case, I matured a lot quicker than my peers as well but only through necessity. My parents don’t have good incomes and so as soon as I had my own job I took on the responsibility of buying my own clothes, car, gas, and when I turned 18 and went to college I paid for school, housing, bills, the whole shabang. So while everyone else is having fun, I’m working 40 hours a week or studying late at night or cooking or cleaning or any number of other things that aren’t typical pasttimes for the average college student.

So I definitely know what you’re talking about. I’ve found I can connect better with people 5 or more years older than me, and am more comfortable surrounded by a bunch of mothers than girls my own age. It’s hard. I want to be accepted but my situation makes it almost impossible for me to interact with people my age and when I do its always weird and awkward.

Help would be appreciated.

In Christ,
Amanda

Now I can already see the grins and hear the chuckles, but hey, we are in the center of the U.S. and we do have more here than wheat fields! My church youth is using the Do Hard Things book in their Sunday school class this summer. I’ve heard that the leaders are impressed and enjoying it themselves. One of my friends, who leads the middle school girls class, read to us a bit from it in our Bible study. She really enjoyed the part about the elephant. :o)
I had already read part of it in Taiwan where I received it when I was serving at an orphanage. The rest I read when I got back to the States. I had read about it previously, and had wrote my mom about it back in the States. When it came out she got two, one for loaning to others and one for me and my family to keep. When the time came for me to leave Taiwan, (I was there for 5 months) another intern at the children’s home was speed reading it to get it done before I had to leave so that I could take it home with me.

We are glad there are others willing to take a stand and rebel against low expectations.

I have two questions for Alex and Brett and anyone else who’s dealt with this sort of situation. This is not meant to be condemning in any way to the Harrises, please take it as an honest question as it is meant. How do you handle using yourselves as examples when writing and talking to people without giving people the impression that you’re better than them? I know politicians can be VERY good at talking and sounding as humble as can be but underneath it all they really enjoy talking about themselves. I never want to give someone that impression.

And second question, a couple of years ago when you were younger, how did you handle doing challenging things that others your age weren’t doing but still not putting yourself above others your age? I myself am young, much to young for most everyones standards, to have gone by myself to Taiwan for 5 months! (I just turned 17 two days ago) I’m often running into problems because of my age. I try very hard not to push myself into things that aren’t open for those my age, but at the same time God’s given me gifts that I know he wants me to use.

I’ll give an example but try not to write a book, but it might be too late for that!
When I was in Taiwan I volunteered and lived at a Christian orphanage. The LEAST amount of babies I took care of at The Home was 12. Every day I helped to care for between 12 to 21 babies. I was night shift so I got up in the early afternoon and went to bed in the morning. At night I was the only one on duty. I enjoyed my work, it was hard, but it was a joy to work for Christ and help this ministry and give to these babies. Now as I’m back in the States It’s hard to get people to trust someone my age with even ONE baby! It’s hard not to be a little bit sarcastic when people wonder if you know how to change a diaper. But an even bigger problem is that I have a hard time now connecting and making new friends with those my age. They see me now as aloof and just WAY different! How can I be an encouragement to others my age when I’m way to young to be a mentor and way to different to be their friends? And when people ask me about things I’ve done and are truly interested, how do I talk and write about these things without seeming like I’m boasting?

A new situation for me, but yet very familiar, is something at church. I’ve been involved, but just as a once every couple of months, volunteering in the nursery at church. (That’s what the youth are allowed to do) Now that our church is moving into our own building we are reorganizing and getting volunteers back together. The lady in change of this saw me signing up and told me to sign up on the adult sheet. She knew of my experience and joked that she’d trust me to handle the room full by myself. I appreciate her willingness to see past my age to my gifts and letting me be more involved.
So what’s the problem?? Well, if I’m in the nursery much more often and am in the position of the adult when I’m there, then there will possibly be those my age or OLDER in the youth that I’ll might be officially “over” and be giving directions to.

So… how have you all handled situations like these? You want to be friends with and encourage those our age, but yet often I find myself in a different stage or position in life and therefore not “in” with those my age.

I realize alot of these situations just come down to my heart and my attitude so I’ll be praying about it. It just feels good to write it out and hear from others who’ve dealt with similar.

In HIM,
~Elizabeth

God bless you all!