theholtsite

In my late 20’s my friend Nathalie said, “I can’t wait to turn 30!” 😀 and I was so inspired by her attitude. Look forward to getting older??!! I didn’t share that joy, but I greatly respected and admired her outlook and knew that I wanted that same attitude. Let’s call it a $10,000 attitude. [Because then I can post this cute pic from our recent bank tour :D]

Now, this year, as I turned a new decade older I do indeed rejoice in aging! So good to get older when you can see growth, and God’s provision, and the baggage and issues of the 20’s and 30’s [more] dealt with and sorted through. Dang, I never realized I had so much to work through when I was younger! But I praise the pain and the self-realization of pride and neediness and emotional hang-ups, because as we can examine our issues we can then process and grow from them. In that there is freedom!

I am so grateful for God carrying my little family all these years. You know, I used to struggle to be thankful and find blessings in my marriage. I struggled greatly for many years. Today, I feel blessed for my marriage and how I have come to understand who my husband is and how he wants to lead our family. Finally, I have learned to let-go of control more and of trying to change other people and make them fall in line with my perfect, wonderful, plan for them.

Haha. I know my family, in their grace, will say I have not been that bad. But, I have come to see that this attitude is often behind my grumpiness or being impatient or harsh with people. It is no small thing to ignore, because bitterness and resentment are sneaky little suckers that can sneak into our hearts.

And now a little something from my friend George MacDonald (1824-1905). Granted, he was a bit more up there in age, but I love his sentiment.

“I am now getting old – faster and faster. I cannot help my gray hairs, nor the wrinkles that gather so slowly yet ruthlessly; no, nor the quaver that will come in my voice, nor the sense of being feeble in the knees, even when I walk only across the floor of my study. But I have not got used to age yet. I do not feel one atom older than I did at three-and-twenty. Nay, to tell all the truth, I feel a good deal younger…”

And when someone is married to this guy, old age really doesn’t come on very quickly.. 😛

So, thank you friends for the birthday wishes of the month! I pray God’s goodness to you and embracing all that comes with age. 🙂