What 43 Looks Like On Me
The last couple years I’ve used my birthday to gauge what my new age looks like on me. Here is last year’s post.
Turning 43 feels like the clickety-clack of a roller coaster inching toward the top. It’s not old age, but it isn’t the youth that I felt was just yesterday.
Last year was a doozie. So much change. Loss. Grief. Transition.
But it wasn’t all bad. We took a family Disney cruise. Our kids are thriving in school. My husband’s work life is full of favor. Those hard times were opportunities to grow, and I receive that.
So here’s what 43 looks like on me.
1. The focus is clearer. I remember as a kid trying to look through binoculars. What setting worked for my dad to see a deer, I had to fine tune. Recently God fine tuned the vision He has for my life. I believe this is from Him because it is a flash of a vision that appears more and more. And it excites and frightens me. I want to wait on a bit before sharing, but I sense from here on in, what I do will propel me forward for this.
2. Finish strong. Where so much has changed, I am living intentionally. I give tributes to people now because neither of us is guaranteed another day. If I’ve given everything I had and God has released me, you won’t see me one second longer than He asks me to be there. Life is too short, and I’m kicking the dust off places and people that clearly have no use for me. It isn’t personal, unless you try to manipulate me to stay where God doesn’t want me. I try to pass on what I’m learning. Encourage. Mentor. Love.
3. Don’t take those small things for granted. Breaking my wrist and the long, painful recovery was not in my plan for last year. Every morning when I make coffee I’m thankful I can. For months I either couldn’t do it, or I had to prop my cast against the coffee maker to do it. I had trouble opening jars, getting dressed, showering. When someone is intentional about interacting with me, I appreciate it. Some topics aren’t fun, but people have the courage to approach me, anyway. I don’t take that for granted. I also don’t minimize grief and what causes it or the timeframe to finish. I don’t want to see anyone harping on the same event 20 years from now, but there were things in 2012/13 that knocked me so hard I wasn’t sure I could recover. My mind is constantly on, and most often thinking about appreciating things and people who saw me through.
4. How precious peace and joy are. These are experiences that separate the wheat from the chaff. Peace and joy are from Christ alone and on the kind of days where the wind whips and sand pelts your eyes, you know it’s Him when there is still a song on your heart. A covering that despite the heartbreak holds you steady. No one can buy that, and I had these things in abundance. So, so thankful.
5. Don’t take the bait. There’s a video gone viral where the woman in the newstory blurts, “Ain’t nobody got time for that.” Last year brought so many situations that definitely had the potential for drama. I haven’t acted perfectly, often falling for the bait to keep the emotions high. I had a friend who knew some of the circumstances in my life and pointed out that I had baiters in my life. She shared she heard the term from Dr. Phil, and that baiters like toxic waters. What I find humorous is that people who know me in real life say they know what circumstance I’m talking about when I share what I’m seeing or learning on FB. Thing is, very few know all going on. Very, very few. So when a baiter comes along hoping to stir me up, I don’t want to take the bait. Seriously, ain’t nobody got time for that.
I don’t dare guess what 43 will be like. I sense full of opportunity. My word for the year is abundance, and I’m seeing that play out in different ways. But my eyes are wide open, heart is mending and expanding, and my steps are bold and with purpose to advance God’s Kingdom. If that’s all that happens this year, I say it’s going to be a great year!
