Aging reflections

¹³ Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.1 Timothy 4:13-14 NIV

 I sit here reflecting on the year, and the things I have learned. Through it all, one thing has definitely remained. The desire and the gift of sharing the life I live, not for glorifying myself, but to encourage others in their walk as a Christian. Particularly women who are wives, mothers and daughters. There is so much to learn through this life, and each phase lends a hand to the next, takes from the one before, and simply becomes a continuous cycle of life.

This year I turned thirty nine and I found myself in a new place. A growing place. I remember that feeling very vividly ~ it happened when I turned 30. A place of newness, yet ..... reflection. Realizing that I was not who I used to be, and was in fact becoming a new creation. The difference? I understand this process now and realize how beautiful it is to go through the change. Kind of like watching a butterfly break out of it's cocoon.

My mother is aging. My daughter is aging. I am in the middle, but yet I am aging too. There is a lot to be said about this phase in life. The things that are important to me now, are way different then what used to be important to me before. The desires of my heart have changed ~ they are deeper and not so materialistic. I am learning that I am NOT the one in control ~ God is, and I like it that way. I LOVE that I do not believe that women are equal to men and in a marriage do not have the same authority. I feel safer now in my relationship then ever before. There is not a battle of control ~ I know who should be. Call me old fashioned, but I would like to think I am doing things the way God intended for me to. To be available as mom ages is so different then to be there for the girl as she ages. Seems mom needs me more, and the girl doesn't. Thankfully neither one of them don't want me in their life ~ just need me differently which means I need to be more open to this change in them both.

It is my desire to encourage women who like me, find themselves in the middle between an aging mother and an aging daughter. I want to encourage you wives to be more patient, loving, kind, with a servant's heart toward your husbands. I want to encourage you mothers who are watching your children grow faster then ever before, and still be able to hold onto those precious moments as they happen. Most of all ~ I want to encourage you beautiful women in this time of our lives to be able to embrace and invite a more closer relationship with God Almighty as we need Him right now more then ever before.

These are the words from my heart, the words God gave me to share. That is the gift He has given me to be used for His glory ~ to bring YOU closer to Him. To bring ME closer to Him as well. As this year ends, and we begin to move into a brand new year I pray that this blog becomes a place that allows you to reflect on His goodness and to rebuild, enhance, or open up a new relationships with Him.

Have a great week!