Weed…
No, not on weed, but in it-Weed, California to be exact.
I graduated from Weed High. And I was a cheerleader for three years. Can you imagine chanting, “Weed High is the best high, is the best high you can get!”?
When I speak to groups, sometimes I tell people that growing up chanting about “Weed High” is the reason for my wayward teen years. It gets a good laugh, but that’s not the truth. It was my own sinful heart. Weed wasn’t the problem-neither the city nor the drug. Actually, I was looking for love in all the wrong places. I was looking for boys to fill the God-shaped hole in my heart. As if a fifteen-year-old football jock could ever do that!
My heart was broken more than once during those years, and I remember times when I questioned if life was even worth living at all. Wasn’t there someone, somewhere, who would love me completely?
Then, I found him . . . when I wasn’t even looking. In fact, I had given up on true love completely. I was 17 and pregnant, and I was sure I’d never find Prince Charming. Who would be interested in a chick with a baby?
The God showed up on the picture. I don’t know when He started pestering me. Looking back, I guess He’d always been there, loving me all the same. Yet as I considered my future, my baby’s future, I realized He was what I’d been missing all these years.
So I opened my heart to God. I had no choice, because it was during those depressing days that I realized His love was the only thing that could satisfy. And you know what? It’s been an ongoing romance ever since. God has shown me His love in numerous ways, and I grow crazier in love with Him day-by-day. In fact, my heart warms just thinking about Him.
And you know what? God is hopelessly in love with you too. Wait, that’s not right. God is hopefully in love with you. Hopeful that you too can have an on-going romance. And do you know how I know that? Because it says so in my favorite Scripture verse:
Zeph. 3:17: “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing” (NIV).
Can you imagine that, God singing over YOU?
That’s right. No matter who you are, how you’ve screwed up, or where you’re from, God is mighty to save you. Even if you’re from someplace called Weed.
Okay, especially if you’re from someplace called Weed.
And…today’s stops on the A Valley of Betrayal blog tour:
Wow, Tricia, that was beautiful! Love that. There’s an AWESOME song that goes, “God is a lover looking for a lover, so He fashioned me.”
I’m from a place that is even worse than Weed. I know, I know. But maybe we can compare notes later. 🙂
Tricia what a powerful testimony! Isn’t just like God to keep on “pestering” us until we finally acknowledge him? His love endures all.
Btw, I cracked when I read, “Weed High is the best high, is the best high you can get!”? LOL!!
Melanie, I LOVE MISTY EDWARDS!!!
Tricia,
I was right there with you chanting “Weed High is the best high, is the best high you can get” My husband teases me about that all of the time. Growing up in Weed was great when we were naive and didn’t know any better. No–it really wasn’t that bad I’m just kidding.
I loved your blog…it just reminds us that God’s love is there when we think nobody else’s is. He is the only one that can fill that certain void in our hearts no matter how happy we are with our other romances.
Tracy
Melanie and Leticia, I love your friendship and encouragement!
Yes, Tracy, you were there cheering with me. But when it was time for the pyramid you got to be the one on top. I still have tread marks on my shoulders ….
hahaha Just kidding.
Awww….shucks! *blushing* lol!
Right back at ya, kid!