If I had only known...

One of my dad’s favorite sayings to me when I was growing up was “you gotta learn everything the hard way.” It has taken me the better part of nearly 48 years to understand just how true that statement is. If I had 10 things that I wish I had understood when I was young that I could share with my children they would be:

1. Pleasing God and pleasing people rarely go hand in hand.
2. The truth may hurt but it is the best thing for you. 
3. The people that truly love you will stick with you regardless of how stupid you have been. 
4. The ability to gather large crowds of people does not equal success. 
5. Don’t believe everything you hear. 
6. People that negatively talk about other people to you will talk negatively about you to other people. 
7. Getting an education is worth every single penny and minute you spend. 
8. You will never regret spending time with the ones you love but you will regret every single second that you didn’t when they are gone. 
9. You will never be as smart as your parents. 
10. The greatest thing you can do in life is trusting the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour.