Thirty Seven Feels Like Just Another Tuesday

As I type this, it is the eve of my 37th birthday! God has kept me alive for 37 years! I know this is cliché but it is true; 37 years have passed by incredibly fast!

A few close people have asked what my birthday plans are or how I wanted to spend my day. Up to this point, I had put zero thought into it. My birthday falls a few days after Christmas. I’m tired from the extra holiday to-dos–so is everyone else. My spending budget has zero dollars left in it–so does everyone else’s. My mindset leading up to this day has been; it’s just another Tuesday.

Tonight, as I sit here, I am feeling convicted for having that mindset. God has granted me 37 years of life and that should be noted, appreciated, and celebrated! I am so grateful for the time allotted for me to raise my children and do my best to share God’s goodness with each person’s path I cross.

As I reflect on the 37 years I have inhabited the earth I wonder how many of those years have been lived for God–years that would receive His stamp of approval. Have I used all that He has given me in a way that honors Him? Have I used my time, talents, and resources to their fullest? Have I used prayer and His Word to the fullest? Have I used the 37 years He has given me in the way He intended me to?

Looking back, some years have been lived for myself and others for Him. Some moments have been lived for myself and some for Him. Some time, talents, and resources have been squandered and some have blessed a multitude. Prayer and the Word have been a comfort, instruction, and tool; however, I have much more understanding to obtain and priorities that need to be rearranged.

In 37 years, I have seen people die and people born, people sick and people healed, experienced a broken heart but no broken bones, experienced physical hunger and thirst as well as spiritual, taken risks and played it safe, felt deep love and deep sadness, taken care of myself while trying to give excellent care to others, misunderstood and been misunderstood, learned and taught, done what I wanted to do and done what I should do, taken the high road and taken the low, lived without regrets but rather looked forward to changing the future.

I’m not perfect, but I do hope God sees a woman who has spent the majority of her 37 years seeking righteousness and walking its path. I don’t want to squander this life God has given me; I want to use it to the fullness in which it was created to be used.

Lord,

Thank you for the 37 years you have granted me. I don’t know how many more years you will allow for me to be here, but all the days I am here I humbly ask:

Please convict my heart when something unpleasant to you enters it.

Please show me the path you want me to take with each decision I have to make.

Please keep me strong physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Please keep my family close to you and close to each other.

In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.