Fifty - What I've Learned


Fifty years – that’s a long time! As I approach my 50th birthday, this is what I've learned so far. 
  • I have learned how to forgive people who don't ask for it and don't deserve it. Life is too short to be angry. 
  • I have learned that God is the answer for all my problems. When times are good, when times are bad, God is in control and I can trust Him. There was a time when the struggle was so hard that I considered anti-depressant medicine but I found that I when I surrendered to God, He was all I needed. I had to let go and give Him control.
  • I have learned that money is not that important. God has always provided for us. We can live on more and we can live on less. When I was stay at home mom, we never did without. The more money we make, the more we spend.
  • I have learned that exercise is important. If I want to enjoy life I have to take care of this body. Hiking is my way of doing something I enjoy while getting the exercise I need. You don’t have to spend money on a gym membership to be healthy. All you have to do is get out and walk.
  • I have come to realize that the glass is half full not half empty. I can be a really negative person but I know that no matter how bad things are, it could always be worse. I have a lot to be thankful for.
  • I have come to realize that God loves my children more than I do. When the kids were little, we dedicated each of them to the Lord and they all three have grown up with faith in God. They have been in church since before they were born. Giving the kids a Christian home is the most valuable thing we have ever given them.
  • I have leaned that my husband is not so bad after all. I wish I could say that every day has been marital bliss but that would not be so far from true. Mike and I have gone through some really difficult times and to be honest, there were times we wanted to give up but I am so thankful that we stuck it out. It’s ok that Mike lost his hair. He is a great guy, he treats me well, he loves me and he loves the Lord. What more could a girl want?
  • I have learned that kids grow up and move on. Praise God! I love having an almost empty nest and look forward to the youngest one (who is never home) moving out soon. I remember how hard it was when the youngest graduated from high school. I cried at every event during his senior year. At first, we didn’t know what to do without ball games and events to attend. Life slowed down drastically. It did not take long for those feelings to change and Mike & I became a couple again. We got into hiking and we began enjoying our time together. As my daughter was telling someone, “my parents never went on vacations until we moved out.”
  • I have learned to put God first in my life and to put my husband second. The kids come third and my job and everything comes after that. I think many times, we put our kids first (especially when they are little) or we put our jobs first and it shouldn’t be that way. The most important relationship I have is my relationship with God. The best thing I can do for my kids is to love their father. When my relationship with God is right, everything else falls into place.
  • I have learned that life is short and no one lives forever. Life was especially short for my brother who was killed in a car accident when he was 28. It was also short for my dad who died of cancer at the age of 66. I don’t know why God has given me 50 years on this earth but I am thankful for every day He gives me.
  • I have learned that God really does work all things together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). I believe this because I have seen it. God has brought good out of so many bad things in my life. Every struggle and every trial has brought me closer to Him with makes it all worth it. 
Now that 50 years have come and gone, I wonder what God has in store for me over the next 50 years. Will Mike and I grow old together? Will I ever have grandkids? Will I live to be a 100? Will my kids take care of me when I am old? I don't have any answers. The only thing I know for certain is that I have a relationship with Jesus Christ and I have the assurance of heaven when I die. Whatever the future holds, I know I can trust God to carry me through and to use it to draw me closer to Him.

“These things are written so that you may know that you have eternal life.” ~John 5:14

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Worship

Because I just have to talk about it . . . Every time I watch this video clip, I can't help but laugh. Even though I think it's funny, I also recognize the seriousness of it.  Did she really say, “When you worship and obey God, we’re not doing it for God, we’re doing it for ourself, that’s what makes God happy!” Really?!?!?! God has been dealing with me on the topic of worship at a time when I’ve been struggling with the whole church thing. We don't really have a church home right now and because of my husband’s crazy work schedule, it’s just been easier to stay home.   Don’t get me wrong, I am still growing in the Lord, listening to online sermons and reading my Bible. Sometimes I just enjoy sleeping in on Sunday morning and then listening to an online sermon while cooking dinner for the kids. Other times I just want to head over to the mountains and enjoy what God has created and Sunday afternoon is really the only time Mike and I have to go hiking. This has ...
Read more

Where is my Soul Mate?

A friend posted an article entitled “I am not married to my soul mate” and opened it up for discussion. Do we choose the person we marry or is that person chosen for us? I have several friends, including my daughter, who are in their late 20s or early 30s and they are waiting for the man God has chosen for them.  I just spoke to a friend this week on this topic as she is waiting patiently for a husband and I am waiting patiently for a son-in-law. As much as I would love to believe God has someone picked out for these girls and all they need to do is wait, I don’t think the Bible teaches that at all. As David Platt said this week, many times we come up with something that sounds biblical, when it really isn’t. When asked what he meant by this, his response, “it’s not in the Bible.” It does not say in the Bible that God has your spouse all picked out for you, I wish it did.  Many of us quote Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you . . .” We love ...
Read more

Angels Landing

Image
I have to tell you about our hike to Angels Landing in Zion National Park. It's one of those hikes that gets me really excited when I think about it.   Before we did the hike to Angels Landing, I went online and got all the info I could. I watched YouTube videos of other people hiking it and those videos had me scared to death. I read about fatal falls and realized that any fall would be a fatal one. When we began the hike, I was not sure if I would complete it by going all the way to the top.  This is the rock formation called  Angels Landing.  The trail goes along the  ridge  where you see a few trees. The top of Angels Landings is 5790 feet. In comparison, this is about the same elevation as Mt. LeConte (in the Smokey Mountains). However, this trail is much shorter and much steeper than the trail to Mt. LeConte. One portion of the trail is called Walters Wiggles and it consists of a series of 21 steep switchbacks. The final half-m...
Read more