On My 35th Birthday

My hands are looking older. Today I am 35, half way to 70. Aging is not something that American culture values. I would say it is something we dread.

In my 20's I felt like life was quickly slipping through my fingers. Maybe it was the shell shock of motherhood jolting me out of childhood. I don't know. But, I do know that I felt old. Crazy, huh? In 2004 on my 29th birthday I had an epiphany: my birthday is worth celebrating. I'm alive and God is not finished with me. My children were jubilant about my birthday. Why wasn't I? When did I lose the anticipation of another great year? I could be in the grave but God has granted me more life. He has plans for me.

Proverbs 31:25, "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come." This is my birthday prayer. I want to live in hope. I want to throw my head back and laugh at the time to come. I want to celebrate all that God has done so far and believe that He is crafting a beautiful future for my good. I want to put my hand in my Lord's and hold on for whatever He has planned.

Corrie ten Boom often said, "The best is yet to be." Spending time in a Nazi concentration camp changed her point of view from temporal to eternal. If Corrie had hope for the future why can't I? No matter what, with Jesus, "The best is yet to be!". He is our security if we will trust in Him. He will not let us go and no one can pluck us from His hand. I tremble as I write this. But, He is my confidence.

"I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8

Acts 13:36, "For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay;"