Here I am, in the last few days of my 67th year. As I reflect on my life, I can’t help but be thankful for all God has done. His hand of protection has been continually upon me.
• In my teens: I was searching to discover who I was and what I wanted out of life. I made a whole lot of mistakes and although I didn’t always make the right choices, God kept me safely in the palm of His hand.
• In my twenties: I began my family and learned how to be a wife and mother. Life was crazy busy but there was always laughter.
• In my thirties: As my children grew up, I learned to be a better person. I also learned patience, resilience, and forgiveness. My strong faith in
God sustained me.
• In my forties: I became a grandmother! For the first time in my life, my heart was stolen. I attended the birth of my first grandson and learned life is even more precious than I ever could have imagined. Another epiphany I had during my forties was learning I had the right to say NO and not feel guilty about it.
• In my fifties: I discovered the freedom to begin doing things for myself instead of always doing for others. It was hard to move out of the mother role but I managed! I started to like myself and hoped, by God’s grace, to learn how to love myself. I learned it doesn’t matter what others think of me and I don’t have to be a people pleaser. At the age of 56, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and thought I’d been given a death sentence. It was one of the hardest years of my life but God saw fit to allow me to continue to live and for that, I’m extremely grateful. Having cancer gives you a whole new outlook on life.
•In my sixties, I watched many friends and loved ones pass away and realized I’m not immortal. I also became a Great Grandmother! Gosh!
With the majority of my years behind me, I know the highest quality years lie ahead of me. I say this because I am in the best spiritual and emotional health ever. It isn’t really about the number of years ahead of me versus those behind me because, although I hate to admit it, I’ve wasted so many of them in the past. But now, I get to take all the experience, strength, hope, and love that the last decades have provided and I get to put them to good use every single day for the rest of my life.
For the past week, I’ve thought about my past – the good, the bad, and the ugly. I think it’s high time that I stop thinking and start doing. Life is short and I don’t want to waste one more minute. Erma Bombeck had it right when she said, with regards to her life, “There would have been more I love yous ... more I'm sorrys ... more I'm listenings ... but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute of it ... look at it and really see it ... try it on ... live it ... exhaust it ... and never give that minute back until there was nothing left of it. Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, champagne in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”
I’ve been so blessed over my previous years and can’t wait to see what God does in the future. My one and only goal is to enter into His presence and hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” And that’s what I’m going to be working in the days ahead…that and sharing His love with every single person I meet. I am grateful to say I am blessed and highly favored. I’ve lived a good life!
What will 68 have in store for me? I have no idea, but I kinda like being a sexagenarian! Maybe Medicare will finally stop bombarding me with booklets and emails.
As we continue to watch the moral decay of our society, I’m truly ready to hear that trumpet sound so I can finally go home to be with the Lord forever. Until then, I’ll keep on doing my best to please Him.
• In my teens: I was searching to discover who I was and what I wanted out of life. I made a whole lot of mistakes and although I didn’t always make the right choices, God kept me safely in the palm of His hand.
• In my twenties: I began my family and learned how to be a wife and mother. Life was crazy busy but there was always laughter.
• In my thirties: As my children grew up, I learned to be a better person. I also learned patience, resilience, and forgiveness. My strong faith in
• In my forties: I became a grandmother! For the first time in my life, my heart was stolen. I attended the birth of my first grandson and learned life is even more precious than I ever could have imagined. Another epiphany I had during my forties was learning I had the right to say NO and not feel guilty about it.
• In my fifties: I discovered the freedom to begin doing things for myself instead of always doing for others. It was hard to move out of the mother role but I managed! I started to like myself and hoped, by God’s grace, to learn how to love myself. I learned it doesn’t matter what others think of me and I don’t have to be a people pleaser. At the age of 56, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and thought I’d been given a death sentence. It was one of the hardest years of my life but God saw fit to allow me to continue to live and for that, I’m extremely grateful. Having cancer gives you a whole new outlook on life.
•In my sixties, I watched many friends and loved ones pass away and realized I’m not immortal. I also became a Great Grandmother! Gosh!
With the majority of my years behind me, I know the highest quality years lie ahead of me. I say this because I am in the best spiritual and emotional health ever. It isn’t really about the number of years ahead of me versus those behind me because, although I hate to admit it, I’ve wasted so many of them in the past. But now, I get to take all the experience, strength, hope, and love that the last decades have provided and I get to put them to good use every single day for the rest of my life.
For the past week, I’ve thought about my past – the good, the bad, and the ugly. I think it’s high time that I stop thinking and start doing. Life is short and I don’t want to waste one more minute. Erma Bombeck had it right when she said, with regards to her life, “There would have been more I love yous ... more I'm sorrys ... more I'm listenings ... but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute of it ... look at it and really see it ... try it on ... live it ... exhaust it ... and never give that minute back until there was nothing left of it. Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, champagne in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”
I’ve been so blessed over my previous years and can’t wait to see what God does in the future. My one and only goal is to enter into His presence and hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” And that’s what I’m going to be working in the days ahead…that and sharing His love with every single person I meet. I am grateful to say I am blessed and highly favored. I’ve lived a good life!
What will 68 have in store for me? I have no idea, but I kinda like being a sexagenarian! Maybe Medicare will finally stop bombarding me with booklets and emails.
As we continue to watch the moral decay of our society, I’m truly ready to hear that trumpet sound so I can finally go home to be with the Lord forever. Until then, I’ll keep on doing my best to please Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment