Your Word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:105
My BIG 50 birthday bash in Indy
October 6th hit the calendars just a few days ago and I turned 50 years old. It seems sort of weird to say, because we all think of ourselves as quite a bit younger than we really are. I mean I have two kids … and they are cute kids, too! Then it hits me. My baby is 24 and my oldest is now a mommy herself, and I am a Grami! Ok … I guess I could be 50 then. But where has the time gone?
Well, some of it was spent playing in the neighborhood of Bomar Addition. Endless summers of fishing, kickball, riding bikes, homemade paper dolls from the Sears and Roebuck catalogs, and board games on the front porch. Winters were filled with hopeful snow days off from school, snow sleds, and hot chocolate. I am blessed with a childhood full of memories that could fill a book all of its own!
Marriage, children, major life events of moves, deaths, friendships, jobs, … LIFE. The details of mine are different than yours, but we all get to the same milestones of life. I trust that when we all arrive at these particular spots in our lives, that we pause for a brief moment to consider where we’ve been and where we’re headed.
The other evening, Tim and I ventured out on the motorcycle for a ride. We stopped at a pizza shop for dinner and by the time we were finished eating, it was nearly dark. My initial personal and private reaction to this scenario was one of slight dread, but I knew that the only alternative was to ask Tim to ride home alone and bring the car back to get me, which defeated the purpose of spending time together. I prayed and asked God to calm my slightly trembling spirit and bolster my courageous and adventurous self. As I snuggled up behind him on the back of the bike, the cool evening air refreshed my soul as I looked out over the beautiful Pennsylvania horizon to catch the final glimpse of the day. I sat there reminiscing about the countless sunsets, equally as breathtaking, that I have enjoyed during my lifetime. This was the first one, however, from on the back of a motorcycle. I began to thank the Lord for His blessings over the past 50 years … and for His gentle nudges to trust Him with the remaining ones.
When I was a little girl, I thought time took its time … summers lasted forever, and one school year to another stretched out for all eternity, it seemed. As I hit the double digits and my trek through life began to gather steam, I remember thinking that time was loosening its grip, and it was truly picking up speed. With the turn of each new decade, the acceleration has progressively increased, necessitating that I hold on a bit tighter as the years have brought some pretty big bumps, curves, and even some very dark nights along the way. But as I came around the bend just last week, somehow, I have reached 50 years old. Although the years will continue to slide past at an ever-increasing pace, I know that I am headed toward an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade, kept in Heaven for me. Wherever you are on your journey, won’t you join me in His great mercy, to accept the gift of New Birth into a Living Hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ? With great anticipation of what’s ahead, and with an inexpressible and glorious joy …
Until next time,
Debbie
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance
that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you,
who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation
that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice,
though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold,
which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine
and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not
see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible
and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith,
the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:3-9
Morsels of Mercy 
From my perspective at a few days short of 71, I’d have to say 50 still looks very young to me. I can’t help but wonder what we look like from God’s perspective, are we still babies?
Old, I feel — mature, I question — saved, I’m sure of that, Halleluiah….. So Happy Birthday “young” lady….
Your thoughts re the bike ride reminder me of the many times on our bike trips, Phyllis must have huged my back and prayed for us to get thru rain, dark, snow & cold – and “HE” always did – it was a wonderful phase of our life. I’m learning from the current phase that all of them have their special blessings. I agree w/ your comment completely, with inexpressible & glorious joy, I look to what “HE” has in store for us.
God bless, hugs to you & Tim, hope to catch you down the road.
Jerry