Once upon a time I was a young little whippersnapper. I laughed at the oldies who drove the minivans full of soccer kids and dyed my hair for fun rather than gray coverage. But my young wrinkle-less life at that time was not without problem so when I accepted Christ at the age of 17, I also fell in love with the bible verse 1 Timothy 4:12.
I found the words of that verse to be encouraging and help me stay on the right path (kinda). Over the years I’ve clung to the words “do not let anyone look down on you because of your youth but set an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity”.
But the past few times I’ve called that verse to memory I’ve found myself standing eye to eye with my oldest daughter. Then the kids at church who I was trying to recite it too said, “Mrs.” when they talked to me. Finally I had to fill out an application and write in my actual age, not the one that I tell my kids I really am. And somewhere it hit me that I’m not that young anymore.
Yes, I am still young. I’m not putting one foot in the grave just yet. But things have changed with me. I’ve matured. I’m at a different place in my life and with my walk with Christ.
Even though I still love that verse, it no longer means the same to me as it once did.
Mr. Byrd has suggested I read Proverbs 16:31, “gray hair is a crown of splendor”.
One of thing things that has made me realize that I’m not the youth that the verse referring too is because now I’m raising young women.
Lately I’ve seen one of my daughters faltering to try to find her place in this world. She tries so hard to be like her older sister, who has different talents than she does, while also trying to cling to the childhood that she sees her younger sister still relishing in. She’s in a rough spot. I know because I’ve been there.
So today I sat down and made this poster of 1 Timothy 4:12 for her. I called her into my room and we talked about how we need to be our own people in this world, and not try to be someone else or fall to the judgement of others. I told her how wonderful and amazing she is, because she truly is.
I told her the story of my older sister and myself growing up. I loved my sister and looked up to her in an idolizing way but I couldn’t do what she did. She was gorgeous and the boys drooled over her. I literally had pink coke bottle classes and a very unfortunate perm. She was skinny and a cheerleader, I broke bones just thinking about doing the splits. She went to a very prestigious university, I went to a not so prestigious community college.
Yet in my life – I’ve seen amazing success. God knew my heart. He knew I wanted a family and he knew I wanted to impact the lives of women. Daily I get to do both. I wouldn’t trade one ounce of perm solution or athletic ability to change that.
I told my daughter that she needs to be herself. Don’t try to be one of her sisters and don’t let the differences between them impact her.
When we were both thoroughly misty eyed I told her about how I believe God has a great future planned for her but she has to make a commitment to be an example of Godliness. She has to embrace the gifts that God has given her and stop trying to be something else that God never planned for her.
And then I gave her this poster and asked her to take my life verse as her own. She needs it and just maybe God gave it to me many years ago for this time, when I would give it to her.
Maybe there’s a girl in your life that needs it. Or just maybe gravity is still on your side and you can use it.
That’s why I’m giving it to you as a free printable bible verse poster today.
Print it out and use it. Give it to a younger girl. Print it and hang it in a dorm room. Mail it to your granddaughter. Save it to your phone and use it as wallpaper.
Use it however you would like for personal use. Please do not use for commercial use.
You can right click and save the image above or Download the PDF version HERE for best resolution. 
Wow…