Today is my 50th birthday. The big 5-0. The "top of the hill". I've heard it said it's all downhill from here...well, I disagree. It is at this time in your life when you begin to realize that what you always thought was important is not really that important after all. As the saying goes, The most important things in life are not things. At this point in my life I have learned quite a few important lessons. I can look back on a lot of things I've said and done and experienced and use those things to make better decisions from this point on. Truth is, I probably won't always take my own advice. I do, on occasion, do things the hard way and worry over things that aren't really that important in the long run, for no apparent reason. But I like to think I have acquired at least a modicum of wisdom that I can share with those younger than me. So here are some things I feel are important to remember. You can decide for yourself.
Be Kind - it rubs off on other people and makes people happy to see you. You never know when one kind word could even save a person's life. "Treat everyone with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you, not because they are nice, but because YOU are."
Be Patient - the world will not end if you are late, nor will it end if you have to wait in a line, or in traffic or wait your turn. Pay attention when you have to stop and wait. It may be God trying to get your attention. Perhaps the person in line next to you needs a kind word, or just a smile. Perhaps God is protecting you from something, or placing you in just the right place at just the right time. Think of this interruption to your schedule as an opportunity to be kind, to be the hands of Christ. I promise it will change your whole perspective.
Be Brave -
Thirteen years ago I faced a giant. I had two mini-strokes within three days after taking some newly prescribed medication. I was 37 years old. I was told that 90% of people who have a mini-stroke will have a massive stroke within one year. I'm happy to say I've beat those odds. The after-effects of the mini-strokes lasted about a year. I had seizures, short term memory loss and depression. I still have problems remembering dates. I did not feel brave. I felt weak and terrified. The only thing that got me out of that terrible hole I was in, were the promises of God. He promised to never leave me, nor forsake me. He tells us in the bible 365 times to "Fear Not". That's a fear not for every single day of the year my friends. It is something I often struggle with and it is also the inspiration for the tattoo I got on my wrist for my 50th birthday. It reminds me every single day to be brave. He's got my back.
Use the Talents God Gave You -
It bugs me when people let a God-given talent or gift go to waste. He gave it to you for a reason and it wasn't to ignore it. 1 Peter 4:10 says, As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace... It wasn't meant to be hidden away or ignored. You are to use it to serve one another, whether that be teaching, speaking, singing, playing an instrument, cooking, sewing, encouraging, writing, visiting, cleaning....whatever it is that you do very well...use it to serve one another. Stop making excuses and use it for His glory!
Be Passionate about Life -
You've only got one life to live and it's not that long! Fifty years has flown by! I doubt I live another fifty. What can I do in the years I have left to leave an impact for Christ on this world? What are the things I always wanted to do that I've not done? I want to write a book. I have no idea what it will be about but I really want to do it. I want to go back to school, but I'm struggling with what I want to be when I "grow up". I want to be a Grandma and hold that little piece of my heart in my arms. I want to be passionate about being the best me God created me to be, using every last bit of gifts and talents He gave me to show the world how much He loves them. I want to be passionate about sharing the undeserved, unconditional, FREE gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Because one day I will leave this Earth and my friends, I know, that I know, that I know, that I will be ushered into the presence of Almighty God. I will walk into my Savior's arms and step into heaven for all eternity. There is more than this life. This one is so short, but the next is for all eternity. Why would anyone gamble with that? Do you know?
Make Sure to say I Love You -
I promise you, telling the ones you love that you love them will never be something you regret. None of us, no matter our age, are promised tomorrow. Make certain they know you love them and that God's love for them in unconditional and everlasting. It's important.
You Can't Always Have it Your Way -
In other words. Suck it up buttercup. Life's not fair. You aren't always going to get a participation trophy. Sometimes you lose. Sometimes you fall down. Sometimes you fail. Sometimes bad things happen. Sometimes things don't make sense. You don't need a "safe space". You need a little bit of backbone and a whole lot of Jesus. Get back up, dust yourself off, take hold of Jesus and keep on showing and sharing the kindness, the patience, the boldness, the gifts, the passion, the love and the perseverance that God has given you. Let you light shine and leave no doubt when you leave this Earth whom you did it all for. Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works , and glorify your Father in heaven.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
Be Kind - it rubs off on other people and makes people happy to see you. You never know when one kind word could even save a person's life. "Treat everyone with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you, not because they are nice, but because YOU are."
Be Patient - the world will not end if you are late, nor will it end if you have to wait in a line, or in traffic or wait your turn. Pay attention when you have to stop and wait. It may be God trying to get your attention. Perhaps the person in line next to you needs a kind word, or just a smile. Perhaps God is protecting you from something, or placing you in just the right place at just the right time. Think of this interruption to your schedule as an opportunity to be kind, to be the hands of Christ. I promise it will change your whole perspective.
Be Brave -
Thirteen years ago I faced a giant. I had two mini-strokes within three days after taking some newly prescribed medication. I was 37 years old. I was told that 90% of people who have a mini-stroke will have a massive stroke within one year. I'm happy to say I've beat those odds. The after-effects of the mini-strokes lasted about a year. I had seizures, short term memory loss and depression. I still have problems remembering dates. I did not feel brave. I felt weak and terrified. The only thing that got me out of that terrible hole I was in, were the promises of God. He promised to never leave me, nor forsake me. He tells us in the bible 365 times to "Fear Not". That's a fear not for every single day of the year my friends. It is something I often struggle with and it is also the inspiration for the tattoo I got on my wrist for my 50th birthday. It reminds me every single day to be brave. He's got my back.
Use the Talents God Gave You -
It bugs me when people let a God-given talent or gift go to waste. He gave it to you for a reason and it wasn't to ignore it. 1 Peter 4:10 says, As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace... It wasn't meant to be hidden away or ignored. You are to use it to serve one another, whether that be teaching, speaking, singing, playing an instrument, cooking, sewing, encouraging, writing, visiting, cleaning....whatever it is that you do very well...use it to serve one another. Stop making excuses and use it for His glory!
Be Passionate about Life -
You've only got one life to live and it's not that long! Fifty years has flown by! I doubt I live another fifty. What can I do in the years I have left to leave an impact for Christ on this world? What are the things I always wanted to do that I've not done? I want to write a book. I have no idea what it will be about but I really want to do it. I want to go back to school, but I'm struggling with what I want to be when I "grow up". I want to be a Grandma and hold that little piece of my heart in my arms. I want to be passionate about being the best me God created me to be, using every last bit of gifts and talents He gave me to show the world how much He loves them. I want to be passionate about sharing the undeserved, unconditional, FREE gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Because one day I will leave this Earth and my friends, I know, that I know, that I know, that I will be ushered into the presence of Almighty God. I will walk into my Savior's arms and step into heaven for all eternity. There is more than this life. This one is so short, but the next is for all eternity. Why would anyone gamble with that? Do you know?
Make Sure to say I Love You -
I promise you, telling the ones you love that you love them will never be something you regret. None of us, no matter our age, are promised tomorrow. Make certain they know you love them and that God's love for them in unconditional and everlasting. It's important.
You Can't Always Have it Your Way -
In other words. Suck it up buttercup. Life's not fair. You aren't always going to get a participation trophy. Sometimes you lose. Sometimes you fall down. Sometimes you fail. Sometimes bad things happen. Sometimes things don't make sense. You don't need a "safe space". You need a little bit of backbone and a whole lot of Jesus. Get back up, dust yourself off, take hold of Jesus and keep on showing and sharing the kindness, the patience, the boldness, the gifts, the passion, the love and the perseverance that God has given you. Let you light shine and leave no doubt when you leave this Earth whom you did it all for. Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works , and glorify your Father in heaven.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
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