Hey 14,
That's great, keep up the good work! Remember it's all in the mind, you can do it if you are determined enough. When I was 14, just going 5 days without having my little 'fix' seemed like an eternity. If you have the time, I just want to share a little story with you that my mother once told me to illustrate the value of patience and perseverance.
The Chinese have a story about a man who lived in a remote village with his wife, cut off from the outside world by 2 huge mountains. He decided one day that he would remedy this problem by moving the mountains with his own hands. His fellow villagers laughed at him and said he was a madman to even entertain the thought of such an 'impossibility'. The man was undaunted and said to his fellow villagers, "I'll start by moving small pebbles, then I'll go onto rocks and boulders. When I die, my sons and my grandsons and their children will carry on my work. One day, if we never stop labouring, even 2 huge mountains like these can be levelled.
Therefore, this man set to work everyday to remove the mountains. Eventually, when he had sons, they helped him as well. Years later, God was so impressed with this man's efforts that he sent two angels down to earth. Each of the angels carried a mountain away on their backs. The mountains were moved before this man died, and the villagers ceased mocking him.
Maybe we can learn two things from this story: firstly that although this struggle is as difficult and as arduous as 'moving a mountain', if we persevere and try our best, then perhaps God will be eventually moved to take the pain of the struggle away from us. Secondly, it doesn't matter what the villagers (the world) says. They can laugh and say we're crazy to impose these burdens on ourselves, but in the end, by doing the right thing we'll only benefit ourselves.
Don't give up and don't stop fighting!
BW,
DL
