dear inner child

Querida Chavelita,

I see you there, small and wide-eyed, full of questions and dreams yet unspoken. You had no way of knowing the roads you'd walk or the storms you'd weather, but I want you to know that every step of your journey—yes, even the missteps—has led you to become someone extraordinary.

You dropped out of high school, not because you weren’t capable, but because life pressed down harder than you knew how to handle. It was a decision that felt like a dead end, but oh, how little you understood about God’s ability to turn ashes into beauty.

Yes, there were mistakes—some you made because you didn’t know better, others because you felt lost. But those moments didn’t define you; they refined you. Each misstep became a lesson, each fall a chance to rise again. And rise you did.

Through the gift of your two children, you found a purpose bigger than yourself. You poured your love, time, and energy into them, raising them with resilience and hope even when life felt like it was crumbling around you. And when your marriage ended, you didn’t let the heartache consume you. You found strength in that brokenness, the kind of strength that only comes from surrendering to something greater. And oh, how beautifully you found your faith! That moment when Jesus met you in your despair—He didn’t just pick you up; He carried you. He reminded you of the dreams He had for you, dreams that had not been canceled, only delayed.

You went back to school—not just once, but again and again, earning not one, not two, but three degrees. Every late-night study session, every sacrifice, every doubt you conquered brought you closer to the woman you are now: a scholar, a professional, and a leader in your community.

And here you are, pursuing your doctorate. Can you believe it? The little girl who once thought she wasn’t enough is now proving that she is more than enough. You’ve become a woman who doesn’t just dream but acts, a woman who inspires others to believe in second chances and the power of faith.

Chavelita, thank you for being brave even when you were scared, for holding on even when it hurt, and for never fully giving up on the idea that you were made for something greater.

I love you for the journey you’ve taken and for the woman you’ve allowed yourself to become.

You are living proof that God’s grace is sufficient, that resilience is powerful, and that dreams deferred are not dreams denied.

With love,

the woman you grew to become