Today, Monday November 5th, 2007, I complete my 50th orbit around the sun. 50 years old. Where has the time gone? Seems like just yesterday I was in college, driving my Ford Galaxy 500, listening to my Olivia Newton-John 8-track tapes, spending my evenings watching M*A*S*H and Six-Million-Dollar Man, and watching men explore the moon. Wasn't that just yesterday? No, that was a couple of weeks ago at least.
Yesterday, I was in the military and listening to President Reagan standing at the Brandenburg Gate and calling out to the Russian President, "Mr Gorbachov, tear down this wall". The guys in my unit cheered as did many people around the world. A few years later, the wall did come tumbling down and freedom was received by millions of people. Some day, I hope, I can tell my grandkids "what I did in the war". Wasn't that yesterday? No, that, too, was at least a couple of weeks ago.
Why, just yesterday, I met and fell in love with my bride. My beautiful bride. Standing on the side of a mountain on Harris Grade in California, looking over the ocean as the sun set on Christmas Eve, and I asked her to marry me. Yeah, that was just last night. I remember the excitement, the scream of joy that came from her, and the comfort I had in my heart. No that wasn't yesterday either because yesterday I held my oldest son moments after he was born - wondering if I was worthy to be a father, and knowing I had no choice at this point. Then after other births there were the miscarriages. The wrenching out of a joyful heart. The gripping of death and the sense of uselessness. Holding one little tiny baby in the palm of my hand as I cried and told her I would see her some day and hold her. I promise. That wasn't yesterday. No, that was a long time ago. It just feels like yesterday.
I missed my first son growing up. I turned around and he was graduating college. I promised myself I wouldn't do that with my next three kids. They grow up so fast, but I refuse to let it pass me by. No, yesterday was today a moment ago, but today is where I am living.
My bride still loves me. I am not sure why, but so grateful she does. My kids call me dad and still give me hugs every day. I am not sure why, but so grateful they do. My boss keeps paying me and God continues to reward the work of my hands. I am not sure why, but I am grateful for each day.
1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of scoffers: 1:2 But his delight is in the law of Jehovah; And on his law doth he meditate day and night. 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That bringeth forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also doth not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Tomorrow I will be one day into my 51st trip around the sun. I have some plans. I want to love my wife even more. I want to draw so close to God that I know His thoughts before He calls my name. I want to play with my grandchildren and give them rides on my foot while sitting at the dining room table. I want to visit Alaska - it is the only state in this great nation I haven't visited. I want to see freedom ring throughout the world and I want to see God glorified in it all.
As I pause for a moment to reflect on my first 50 years, I think of what I have learned...
1, Nobody is perfect - especially me, so don't hold anybody to that standard - especially me. 2. There is a friend closer than a brother, but only a few. 3. You will never make more than a handful of really true friends in your life. Enjoy each one, cherish them, nurture them, don't take them for granted. 4. It is a good thing for a man to enjoy the wife of his youth. It is a lot of work, but the returns are invaluable. 5. All women are beautiful. Men are just plain ugly. Accept it. 6. People will remember you when you are extremely kind or extremely angry. The choice is always yours - always. 7. There is nothing more inspiring that the fingers of a small child wrapped around one of my fingers. It makes me feel like a king. 8. Sing when you want. Don't worry about what other people think. Life is too short. 9. When asked, dance. 10. Don't be afraid to tell people that you love them, but only tell them if you really mean it. They can tell the difference. If you mean it, you can't tell them enough. 11. There are some people that understand that freedom comes with a price and they are willing to pay that price to make sure you and I have it. Always thank them. Always. You will never truly understand them. Don't worry about it. Just thank them. 12. Words are powerful. Many are the times when nothing said is best. 13. Today is what you make of it. Choose life. It is better than any alternatiive. 14. The choice is always yours as to whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Every day an adventure. Every day drawing closer to Him. Every day a moment to cherish. Every day a chance to love my family and my friends.
Happy bday voice, and thank you for sharing your wisdom with us. It is most beneficial to hear wisdom from those who've been there and done that, especially those who are mature in their faith. btw, I disagree w/#5 (lol), but the others are wonderful. And as for #13, our license plates echo that sentiment (choose life). God bless! ~mike
The impact of one life--we never really understand how our lives impact others.
I am sitting here weeping after listening to Natalie Grant sing "Held". I had heard parts of the song before, but had never listened to it. Oh my heart.
To think that providence would Take a child from his mother while she prays Is appalling.
This is what it means to be held. How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life And you survive. This is what it is to be loved. And to know that the promise was When everything fell we’d be held.
I held my twelve week old baby in the palm of my hand as his life blood poured out of my body, and my heart broke. I have never met anyone who has gone through the loss of a child through miscarriage (or any other way) that has "gotten over" it. It just becomes a part of who we are. Now when someone else experiences that kind of loss I am there crying with them and holding them, sending a card, flowers, bringing a meal--everything that one does for any other death. It seemed to me, that it was so lonely and cold to lose my baby before anyone but my husband and I knew him. Most people don't even know how to acknowledge such a loss. I found that those who treated my loss as they would any other death were the ones that helped me the most. They validated my anguish and pain and helped me heal. Thank you, Voice, for being someone else God is using to help heal that pain in my heart over my sweet baby's death. My husband and I just talked this past weekend about losing our baby. I see now that our wonderful Heavenly Father is healing another little piece of my heart today through your wonderful blog.
The Steven Curtis Chapman clip, oh my, two of my beautiful daughters we adopted only this past summer; they have been with us for over three years. I am just a pool of tears!
Thank you for the impact of your life on mine today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! ~Coreena
Coreena, you are correct. You never get over it, you just get through it. Natalie Grant's song says what so many of us have felt and puts it in perspective that there is healing even in the middle of the tragedy. I have heard the song over a hundred times and still I cry - sometimes out of anger, sometimes because of the hurt, sometimes because God is so good - and I get through another day.
Steven Curtis Chapman is one of my heros in the faith. A young man from Kentucky who followed his gifts and has made a lot of tough choices along the way. Like you and me, he has had his struggles. He has shared those struggles with those who would listen and grow from them. There are few people more personable, more down to earth, and more real than Steven. The Cinderella song on his new album is fully accompanied and is very beautiful. There is something more real about it here with him just playing his guitar and singing it for us. It is truly a great reminder to live each day to its fullest.
...as far as being someone that God is using...well, I just walk through life. It is His light that shines. As always, TGBTG!!
I really don't have the words here. Thanks for sharing these really touched me today. As I am in the starting stages of my 52 trip around the sun, I know what you mean. Our 3rd grandchild is due in lat January and it seems like only a few days ago I was holding her mother for the first time.
What a touching tribute to your life. You really know how to put it all into words. I hope you have a great birthday. I feel blessed to have crossed paths with you.
Happy birthday freind, I, and I'm sure many others, have payed attention, and watched close as you've shown the heart of a father to the ones of us here on MyChurch. You have helped set a tone of encouragement and been free in your expression of God's love to us all. May God grant you many, many fruitful years. May He grant your desires fulfillment. May you live to see the fruit of the love between your wife and you reach maturity, and may you find pride in all that they become, they will, after all, reflect the two of you, and their Savior. God bless you dear brother, God bless.
Thanks Carol. I honestly haven't see an 8-track in years.
Great song. Great reminder that we are only here for a moment even with 100 years. I don't know about the "amazing" part. Just a guy walking through history trying to give God the glory along the way.
We adopted our oldest daughter almost 21 years ago! What a blessing she has been. She's mebbe going to be engaged sometime soon, though I haven't had a "THE TALK" with the young man yet. Pray for me!
Thanks for sharing your blessings and hurts with us!
. Don't be afraid to tell people that you love them, but only tell them if you really mean it. Happy Belated Birthday. This blog is tops thanks for sharing.
like just yesterday I was in college, driving my Ford Galaxy 500, listening to my Olivia Newton-John 8-track tapes, spending my evenings watching M*A*S*H and Six-Million-Dollar Man, and watching men explore the moon. Wasn't that just 
yesterday? No, that was a couple of weeks ago at least. 
bride. My beautiful bride. Standing on the side of a mountain on Harris Grade in California, looking over the ocean as the sun set on Christmas Eve, and I asked her to marry me. Yeah, that was just last night. I remember the excitement, the scream of joy that came from her, and the comfort I had in my heart. No that wasn't yesterday either because yesterday I held my oldest son moments after he was born - wondering if I was worthy to be a father, and knowing I had no choice at this point. Then after other births there were the miscarriages. The wrenching out of a joyful heart. The gripping of death and the sense of uselessness. Holding one little tiny baby in the palm of my hand as I cried and told her I would see her some day and hold her. I promise. That wasn't yesterday. No, that was a long time ago. It just feels like yesterday.
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