Age 40 - Celebrating the Goodness of God

Tomorrow, October 17th, is my 40th birthday. 

I'm amazed how quickly age 40 comes! I clearly remember my 10th birthday. I also remember my 20th birthday like it was yesterday. (well, not quite yesterday, but you know what I mean.) My 30th birthday arrived not long ago. The decades come and go very quickly. 

I've always enjoyed having a birthday in autumn, right in the middle of the fall season when the colors of the leaves on the trees are usually at their peak where I live. 

 

I love having a birthday during my favorite season of the year. 

For some reason, I tend to remember my life in decades. For almost the first 10 years of my life, I lived in Michigan with my family. Those were my childhood days. Happy memories! 

For a little more than half a decade, I lived in California with my family. That time holds precious memories, along with some not so pleasant memories. I did a lot of growing there, physically and spiritually. I gave my life to God during that time (very special!) , and I went from being a girl of almost 10 to a young lady of 15 when we moved. Homeschool days. Sewing lessons. Piano Lessons. Track and field. Cats and kittens. Rubber stamps. The beach. Outdoors. A broken arm. Big changes. Major growth. That kind of defines my life during that time.  

The last two and a half decades have been spent where I live now, a considerable length of time. 

My mid to late teen years hold memorable things for me: new, Godly friends around age 16, learning to play the harp at 17, harp lessons at 18, and graduating (after taking a GED test) at 19. Those are some big memories that stand out in my mind.  

My 20's hold huge memories for me, both joyful and painful. I began working when I was 20. I learned to drive in my 20's. I purchased my first vehicle in my 20's. More precious friendships happened. During my 20's, I purchased 5 harps and professionally recorded 4 albums. My first trip to Israel (and Egypt) happened in my late 20's. Big things happened in my life during that decade. I look back at all I did in my 20’s, and I’m in awe of God. 

My 30's also hold special, lifetime memories, along with some extremely painful ones. During this decade, I purchased 5 more harps and professionally recorded 2 more albums. I went to Ghana, West Africa for 3 months, and God blessed me with two more trips to Israel. I went on road trips, alone, in both directions of the United States. Lots of travel! During this decade, I sold 7 of my harps - five of them to purchase a large, 40 string harp that I'm still in awe is mine. During this decade, I underwent major surgery. (not fun!) I was blessed to help with 8 different harp books for the 10 string harp during this decade. I spent lots of time in prayer, in worship, and in deep study of God's Word. Truly, this past decade is one I won't forget. 

Those are brief descriptions of each decade of my life thus far. I could definitely elaborate more. 

Years ago, I used to dream of recording two harp albums at the most. God has allowed me to record six albums - triple the amount I dreamed of. 

Years ago, I used to dream of visiting the Holy Land just once. God has allowed me to visit Israel three times - triple the amount I dreamed of. 

God has given me far above what I dreamed! I’ve told a few people that I’ve gotten to do everything I’ve wanted as a single woman. 

My only reason for sharing all of this is: 

I have seen God’s incredible goodness in my life. 

Tomorrow, I enter a new decade of my life - my 40's. 

The number 40 in the Bible is a significant number. That number is connected to different people in the Bible. The number 40 in the Bible often symbolizes a period of testing. The children of Israel were in the wilderness for 40 years. Jesus fasted for 40 days. Although testing isn't always enjoyable, testing can be a very beautiful thing because it reveals who we truly are and what is inside us. Our faith isn't quite as valuable until it has been tried and tested. 

I admit, my life looks nothing like I would've imagined it to be at this age. I would've expected to have had a family of my own by the age of 40. I never would've thought I'd still be single, living at home with my parents at age 40.  

What would I like for my birthday this year?  

I don't desire any material thing. I just desire a family of my own - something I've prayed for, for a long time. 

Growing up, my siblings and I used to enjoy watching something called "Little House on the Prairie". (my parents tried to be very careful what we watched) There is an episode I've always loved called: "At the End of the Rainbow" In this episode, Laura (the main character) finds what she thinks is real gold with a school friend at their fishing spot. Expecting to get rich from all the gold they find, they discover later that it is nothing more than fool's gold. Heartbroken, Laura and her friend, Jonah, dump all the fool's gold back into the creek. Later, Laura's "Pa" finds her there alone. Their conversation is one I've always loved. To quote them, they say:

Laura: "Oh Pa, I was going to give you so much... I was going to give you a big house and everything, and now look at it."  

Pa: "Half pint (her Dad's nickname for her), you listen to me. You give us everything we want every single day of our lives. You give us love, and respect, and joy. There isn't enough gold in the whole world to buy those things."  

That last quote from her Pa is profound to me. In essence, Laura's Dad was saying that the love and joy that comes from having a happy family is worth more than gold. I love how he says it.

Celebrating my 40th birthday with a family of my own would have been the best birthday gift of all. 

Many people tend to not like turning 40 years old. They're old; they're “over the hill” now they say. I could have that attitude.

But I'm not celebrating my 40th birthday with that attitude.  

Life is a gift! Life is to be celebrated! God has blessed me with 40 years of life on this earth, and that is something to celebrate! I will celebrate God's goodness to me. 

What do I have planned for my 40th birthday? 

Nothing too spectacular. It will likely resemble birthdays in years past. Simple, but special.  

I'll go out for lunch with my Mom at a cute, little place near our home. I might do something outside in nature during the day. Soup and bread is on the menu for supper. (my favorite!) I was going to try making a new soup recipe I found online this summer using zucchini and other vegetables. (I love zucchini!) But who wants to cook on their birthday? Not me. Like last year, I decided to have Panera Bread's "Autumn Squash" soup (which can be purchased in grocery stores) to just heat up on the stove. I'll garnish the soup with pumpkin seeds, and serve sourdough bread and butter with it. Yum!  

For dessert? I enjoy trying new things. About a month ago, I decided I wanted to make an applesauce cake this year with cream cheese frosting and walnuts pieces sprinkled on top.  

Autumn squash soup and applesauce cake - a true fall meal. 

My 40th year? Bring it on! I look forward to seeing what God has planned. 

The Lord is my Shepherd. I’m looking to our Shepherd to lead me.