Come and set a little while with me, have some tea and let's talk about the future. How about a cup of Deejarling Tea? What about the future you ask....
Today is the day in my life that I look back at my life and see how far I have come in accomplishing the things I have been created to do. I no longer wait to 'grow up' , for I am now in the age group that is called 'mature'. How do we age year by year and yet feel the same inside? I feel just the same as I did at 20, although I am far from it. And the years of time pass slowly and quietly add gracious lines of laughter and concentration to my face. I am happy about each line of pain and glory!
My destiny is set and the purpose for which I was created draws closer as I gather the years in my basket of memories. Records of heights and the depths of life, the passage of joys and sorrows all march through my life bringing a hosts of thoughts from days gone by. Seasons change and the views I once had about different things, are now tempered by time and my focus changes from past opinions of immaturity to the pace of expected behaviors and responsible actions of an adult. Seeing the whole picture is part of the growth of growing up. No ones actions only touch them, but our decisions affect all around us. Why so introspective today?
Today is my Birthday. The day of one's birth is an important record and milestone in life. Birthdays are grand events around our home. My grandson Jake wants to be Batman on his birthday. He is in the 'hero' stage and enjoys the attention of saving the world. He is the hero when he gets his candles blown out and he's ready to eat!
All his friends enter his action packed life and great fun is had at the birthday party all playing the hero and then the villain. But the grand finale is the Cake!
Gracie wants to her mom to be the Queen and herself to be the Princess at her Birthday Party. The childhood memory makers are important when you are 3 and 4 years old. Every child waits in excitement for their big day to arrive. Finally it does and the world evolved around the celebration of their life for one whole day.
Today is the big day for me. Each birthday is getting better than the last! I am looking forward to this year and the adventures that it holds for me. As life is lived on different planes and levels, one eventually comes to the place where the meaning of relationships is more important on ones birthday then the mental games of pretend. Some want to deny life's passages and try to hold onto their youth and the fantasy of refusal to change. But the joys of each age cannot be enjoyed unless one is living fully in the age that they are in reality.
I have found one of the great secrets of having good birthdays and it has become proven to me over and over in my life. And the secret I will tell you is...... ' all things work together for the good of them that love the Lord and are called to His purpose'. One birthday after another proves to me that every single thing that has ever happened in my life, does come around and become a blessing to me.
Each year I am given a statement, or a word or an impression to be a touchstone to me through out the year. One year it was
''Be still, study and soliloquy" - and my focus yearlong became these 3 instructions.
another was
"Blessing" - and the entire year was spent gathering huge blessings, it was actually enormous work but very rewarding to a countless number of people by the time the year was over.
Many precious words are stored up for my inheritors one day of the record of my life. What will my theme be this year? Today begins the timing for yet another guiding word to come to me. I await it anxiously as the best Birthday present I could ever receive from my Father.
Next year I will enjoy yet another type of birthday parties with each of my grandchildren - as we explore childhood together. And it's pure fun! But I no longer need to be Batman, (or Cat woman as Gracie wants to be sometimes) or even a Princess - I am happy just being me.
And to you I say, ...... the ending of the birthday song for your own life
........and many more! Everybody has a birthday every year - may yours be as happy as mine this year.
Happy Birthday!, Pastor Gayla. I enjoy reading your magazine. it is a blessing to read. Thank you so much for all you do, and the time you give up to do so much for others.
May this year be a very special year for you.
Posted by: Pam Watson | March 28, 2007 at 11:07 AM
Happy Birthday, Mother
Posted by: Angela Mooney | March 28, 2007 at 11:17 AM
Happy Birthday Gayla!
Growing up is an adventure and you are right about just "being" who you were called to be. May the Lord bless you with joy this year.
Susan
Posted by: Susan Young | March 28, 2007 at 10:19 PM