Proverbs 4:13 (ICB) says, “Always remember what you have been taught. Don’t let go of it. Keep safe all that you have learned. It is the most important thing in your life.”
This verse really spoke to me. It’s about experiences—the lessons life teaches us. Some things we were never taught directly, but life itself became our teacher.
When I was younger, even mentioning a boy you liked was out of the question. The consequences would have been severe. That was how our parents raised us, and their parents were even stricter. My grandmother once told me a story about my aunt and her friend. They stopped by a friend’s house to eat some fruit and got home late. My grandmother, worried sick, went looking for her. But when she finally found her, she didn’t just scold her—she locked her in the bathroom all night after pouring cold water all around it. That was the punishment for coming home late. Extreme, right?
Looking back, it’s easy to say those punishments were harsh. But isn’t it interesting how every generation looks at the one before and wonders how they survived? A friend and I were talking the other day about how, if we disciplined our kids the way our parents disciplined us, people would call it child abuse. Things change. But through it all, one thing remains true—our experiences shape us.
The Bible says that our experiences are the most important things we can learn in life. That’s a pretty heavy statement. The most important lessons you will ever learn come from the things you have been through.
I’ve been through so much in life. I’ve walked through fire and come out the other side. And the lessons I’ve learned along the way? They have molded me into who I am today. Life has taught me resilience, wisdom, and strength. Every hardship, every victory, every tear, and every triumph has been a lesson worth keeping. Because at the end of the day, what we have learned—what God has shown us through our journey—is one of the most important things we carry with us.
Have a beautiful day. 🖤