After just typing that title, for the first time that actually sounds old. Haha
I have zero complexes about turning forty. I'm here for it and grateful for it- what a blessing and privilege to get older!
I was so young when I started this blog. 25 actually. It seems like a lifetime ago. Writing here reminds me of those first several blogging years, and what life was like then and I don't think it will ever not feel sad to some degree when I think about it.
But that's not what I came here to write about. I came here to write, in my typical fashion, some lessons on what I've learned in my forty years of being alive. It is by no means comprehensive, but just what moves me today. It's Halloween and my last week in my thirties, and I just want to take a few minutes to document what I feel are the most important things I've learned in my (still young) life.
I've learned that life is seriously short. To think I'm heading into my second half of life is crazy- wasn't I a young mom just a few years ago? Now I find myself horrified at the fact that in ten years all my kids will be grown and the rest of my life will be just my husband and I. I'm learning to cherish this time more and more while the kids are still in our home.
I've learned that what God thinks about me is so much more important than what others think of me. I really dulled my shine for a lot of years because of fear of how others would judge me. How silly! God created me just as I am, and as long as I'm in line with HIS plans for my life, I shouldn't care what others think.
I've learned that life is hard. Like, really hard. Be careful to judge people who make decisions you think you would never make, or have a life circumstance you think you'd never have. If you're in a good place with good people, it's by the grace of God.
I've learned that pride is not only ugly, but very sneaky. My twenties was a building up of my pride, my thirties were the acknowledgement of my pride, and I believe my forties are going to be the breaking down of my pride. When we're young and we get hurt, sometimes pride develops along with the healing process. Recognizing it was there only happened through some heart-wrenching experiences, and now that I'm aware of it I'm shocked sometimes when the Lord convicts me of even more hidden pride. I know now, and my sweet husband always reminds me of this, we are good only by the grace of God.
Taking care of yourself is not just something you should do, it' imperative. You need to take care of yourself. It's crazy how your body and health changes in your thirties, and I know it only continues to do so the older you get. You need to eat well, you need to exercise, you need to mind your stress, and you need to sleep well. I'm no longer just thinking about being the best mom, wife and person I can be, but I'm also thinking about the kind of grandparent I want to be someday- and hopefully instead of choosing my care facility they'll be asking if they can drop the grandkids off for the weekend.
Life is not fair. It's just not, and it was never meant to be. Chasing justice in your life will only cause heartache. You can't control other people, and sometimes you'll feel judged, misunderstood, and mistreated. That's ok- Jesus was all of those things, too. I'm so glad to have him as an example. It was so freeing to me to have the realization, after a particularly long and upsetting day trying to defend myself to someone who was determined to misunderstand me, that if God sees me and knows my heart and loves me, and not only that but DIED for me because I needed that saving grace, why on earth am I spending a minute of my life trying to prove to someone else how good I am? Again- I'm only good by God's grace!
Well, that's it for now. Maybe I'll write a part two if the mood strikes. Signing off with this- I'm so grateful for each and every day God has blessed me with. Grateful, grateful, grateful. Grateful for my wrinkles, for turning forty, for the aches and pains, grateful for a God that makes beauty from ashes, thankful for redemption, for new beginnings, and that joy comes in the morning. His promises stand. <3
Lindsay
