Dear Younger Me
by Mercy MeDear younger me
Where do I start
If I could tell you everything that I have learned so far
Then you could be
One step ahead
Of all the painful memories still running thru my head
I wonder how much different things would be
Dear younger me, Dear younger meDear younger me,
I cannot decide
Do I give some speech about how to get the most out of your life
Or do I go deep
And try to change
The choices that you’ll make cuz they’re choices that made me
Even though I love this crazy life
Sometimes I wish it was a smoother ride
Dear younger me, dear younger meIf I knew then what I know now
Condemnation would’ve had no power
My joy my pain would’ve never been my worthIf I knew then what I know now
Would’ve not been hard to figure out
What I would’ve changed if I had heardDear younger me
It’s not your fault
You were never meant to carry this beyond the cross
Dear younger meYou are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand-new heart
You are free indeedEvery mountain every valley
Thru each heartache you will see
Every moment brings you closer
To who you were meant to be
Dear younger me, dear younger meYou are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemedSet apart a brand-new heart
You are free indeed (3x)
“Dear younger me, where do I start …”
These words from Mercy Me’s powerful song have been stirring something deep within me for a long time. The lyrics feel like a conversation I’ve had in my own heart—reflecting on the paths I’ve walked, the choices I’ve made, and the lessons learned along the way.
Like the song says, “If I knew then what I know now …” I think many of us have felt that longing—wishing we could whisper wisdom into the ears of our younger selves. We imagine how different life might be if we could undo certain pain, avoid certain choices, or embrace our worth sooner.
But here’s the truth that God has been impressing upon me: every step of the journey—every heartache, triumph, detour, and breakthrough—has shaped who we are today. Even the broken pieces have purpose.
Recently, I’ve felt God nudging me again and again: “Share your story. Speak your truth. Walk alongside others as they uncover theirs.”
These nudges have grown stronger, until they could no longer be ignored. So I’m listening. I’m taking the leap.
And I’m inviting you to leap with me. Beginning Sept. 16, I am offering a four-part series on Tuesday evenings called Dear Younger Me: A Journey of Reflection, Forgiveness & Renewal. I invite you to join me as we step away from the noise of daily life and enter a sacred space designed for deep reflection and soul renewal.
Let’s walk this sacred path together—a journey of reflection, healing, discovery, and grace.
Together, we’ll:
- Review our life stories, looking for patterns, meaning, and the hidden threads of our soul’s mission.
- Explore the hero’s journey—the trials, the mentors, the calls we answered or ignored.
- Acknowledge what has been unlived or repressed, and offer space for it to breathe.
- Look not only at our life review, but our shadow’s life review—the parts of ourselves that have been pushed aside or buried.
- Reflect on the arenas we’ve entered, the spectators we’ve noticed, feared, or tried to please, and how those dynamics have shaped our path.
- And finally, we’ll close with a ceremony of the sacrifice flower—a symbol of surrender, healing, and transformation.
This will be a journey of faith, surrender, service, abundance, forgiveness, overcoming obstacles, and above all, love.
So here I am. A little scared, but even more ready.
Will you join me?
Let’s do this—together.
—Cindy Dunn, Dear Younger Me program facilitator
Join Cindy for Dear Younger Me: A Journey of Reflection, Forgiveness & Renewal beginning Sept. 16. Learn more here.