Okay, this post is a little more personal than professional, and well, really honest. I rarely ever do blog posts that are so personal, but I turned 40 on Tuesday and I’m feeling quite reflective. It’s weird! How can I be 40? Wasn’t I just in college? That’s how I feel, but then again I have a 10 year old and a 6 year old, I actually worry about injuries now when I exercise, and my babysitters and the teenagers that are bagging my groceries respond to me with “Ma’am” or Mrs. Durham. “Ma’am?” Really? And when I hear “Mrs. Durham”, I’m looking around for my mother-in-law!
But alas, it’s true and I plan to embrace it. After all, “40 is the new 30”, right? And thank goodness y’all, because I’ll be honest, my thirties were exhausting! And, I know I’m not the only mom who feels that way! I started my business when I turned 30, worked to pursue my passion for photography and grow my business, had two babies, dealt with some health issues (thankful for complete healing) and had the privilege to walk a five year road with a friend battling breast cancer and then was with her when she went home to be with the Lord. (You can read about my friend Laura’s journey on her Caring Bridge site here.) My precious friend certainly had hope in her Lord all the way to the very end. The thing Laura taught me most in her five year journey was that our joy comes from the Lord, not in our circumstances. She always looked for the joy. Even though they were filled with emotions and exhaustion, there was tons to be thankful for in my thirties! There was lots and lots of good! But as with anyone, there were also a few bumps in the road.
With all that being said, I feel incredibly thankful and blessed beyond measure… truly beyond what I deserve. The Lord has carried me all my life and I know he will carry me the rest of the way. My life verse has always been Proverbs 3:5,6 (NKJ) — “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
He has always directed my paths. Always. There’s so much freedom in that because the world tends to break us down, redirect us from the truth, and make us tired.
There’s a song I love by Aaron Shust. I’ll share the lyrics with you…
I meet with You and my soul sings out
As your word throws doubt far away
I sing to You and my heart cries
Holy!
Hallelujah
Father, You’re near!
My hope is in You, Lord
All the day long
I won’t be shaken by drought or storm
A peace that passes understanding is my song
And I sing
My hope is in You, Lord
I wait for You and my soul finds rest
In my selfishness, You show me grace
I worship You and my heart cries Glory
Hallelujah
Father You’re here!
My hope is in You, Lord
All the day long
I won’t be shaken by drought or storm
A peace that passes understanding is my song
And I sing
My hope is in You, Lord
I will wait on You
You are my refuge
I will wait on You
You are my refuge
My hope is in You, Lord
All the day long
I won’t be shaken by drought or storm
My hope is in You, Lord
All the day long
I won’t be shaken by drought or storm
A peace that passes understanding is my song
And I sing
My hope is in You, Lord
My hope is in You, Lord
Yeah
My hope is in You, Lord
I think this song says it all, because life is full of ups and downs, surprises and trials for all of us, and without hope we would just flounder around on our own self sufficiency (or even worse, fate), which is scary. But, we don’t have to. We have the hope in the Lord that sets us free. This song is a great reminder of that freedom that comes through Christ alone. I mess up daily, but thankfully his mercies are new every morning. Lamentations 3:22-24 (ESV) — “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.'”
Why am I so bold as to share all of this on my professional blog? For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. — Romans 1:16 (Geneva) Maybe somebody out there who is in need of hope will stumble upon this post. Maybe one day I’ll need to go back and read my own words for encouragement. I mentioned some health issues earlier in this post…In my thirties, the Lord, who is the source of my hope, healed me from thyroid cancer that had spread to a lymph node and healed my daughter from a rare blood disease she acquired, and was healed from, at the age of four. Complete healing from a powerful and loving God! How can I accept that grace and mercy and not share the unfailing and never-ending hope that is promised to all who believe the Gospel, as I embark on another decade of my life?!
Blessed? Absolutely!
Thankful? Yep!
Hopeful? You bet!
Bring it on forties! I’m ready!
Oh, and please bring it on with more sleep and a kickin metabolism! 😉
Tears!! And Cheers!!! So, so many Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!
Beautiful post! Love the honesty. Feel so the same about my 30s. Thrilled to be where I am. May your 40s bring an equally blessed decade with more peace and joy in the Lord – and in your circumstances if the Lord wills. Blessings to you!