Today marks the twelfth anniversary of TBTB that was started on my 58th birthday. Now, on my 70th birthday, I find myself writing post #1840 – marking something more than 1.5 million words since our inception.
I heard earlier today that birthdays ending in “0” – 50, 60, 70, etc., seem to cause more introspection that the years in between these major markers in our lives. I honestly don’t recall how I felt turning 50 or 60, but it seems to me that I reflected on the past and my path to get where I was. However, I was surprised to notice that for the past several days I have dreaded the big “70” and started thinking about the past once again, as I occasionally do. Until yesterday, when things changed…
Yesterday, our family held a party for me, a day ahead of my actual birthday. As is our custom, each member of the family speaks about the ways they have been impacted by the birthday person. It was interesting to hear how our children and grandchildren have fond remembrances of me teaching them, supporting them, encouraging them and helping them get ahead in the world. In truth, I have a different relationship with each of our kids and grandchildren.
But as I listened, I discovered that I found myself looking forward as opposed to looking backward. As I have said in the past, I have been trained from my earliest childhood to plan on eventually leading the family and it has now been almost 50 years that I have been in a position of leadership. Half a CENTURY! But the future was looming large and I was motivated all the more to pour myself into my leadership mission to guide the younger generations.
Although I still work part time, I catch myself dreaming about the future. Time is becoming more precious and I wonder how I can continue to speak into the lives of the coming generations as I reduce my workload. It seems that each year the members of our family continue to benefit from Janet’s and my counsel – and we love to see them grow! You could say that our job will never be done – we will always be in a position of providing love and guidance to others.
I am blessed to be part of a family that really gets along well. We have dinner together relatively often, support one another through our attendance and participation in events that are important to each of us and celebrate our differences. I have taught the kids that the family is the most important thing (outside of our relationship with God) and that we all grow by learning from one another.
Each year, I recall the verse that my paternal grandmother inscribed in the front of a small Bible that she gave me on my 10th birthday, in 1963. It was the foundational verse that TBTB was built on.. The idea, quite simply, is that each of us was created by God with a unique mission – something that we can do better than anyone in eternity past or eternity future. Once again, the verse has been the center of my life for 60 years. The author of Hebrews tells us, in Hebrews 13:20-21, “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
My encouragement this evening is that God equips each of us with whatever we need to do the unique things that we have been created to do. My prayer is that we will age with dignity and grace – continuing to guide others to their divine appointment with destiny. I have had a wonderful weekend of celebration for my birthday. Thanks to all of you for the part you have played in my life. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…