Here we are at the end of January 2024, and I am amazed at how quickly this month has passed. Will the year pass as quickly as these thirty-one days have or even faster? I used to hear that the older you get the faster time moves. Here I am, older, and time is definitely moving very quickly.
It seems like yesterday that I awoke on my birthday to a song my husband, Mark, had playing for me entitled Turning Thirty. The lyrics go like this:
I’ve got a house down by the ocean
The rent is not too high
And I love to watch the ships come in
And hear the seagulls cry
And lately I’ve been taking stock
Of all that I’ve been through
Oh, tomorrow is my birthday
Feels funny but it’s true
I’m turning thirty
Now I’ve got a wife who really loves me
She makes my life so sweet
And a little baby daughter
Who plays games around my feet
And my world is very different
From those lazy bachelor years
But if I had the chance to go back
I’d rather stay right here
Turning thirty
I’m turning thirty
And I have friends who care about me
They’re the best I’ve ever had
And they always stood behind me
Whenever times got bad
And I love to play my music
Though the road can be at trial
But every time I walk on stage
It’s worth each dusty mile
Turning thirty
Well, now thirty ain’t like fifteen
And it’s not like twenty-five
My back’s a little stiff
And there’re some lines around my eyes
But I’ve still got my energy
And I’ve got most of my hair
And I’m not too old to rock’ n roll
And I’m not really scared
Of turning thirty, yeah, yeah
Oh, the eighties look like tough times
The world is turning sour
So, I’ll keep on serving Jesus
And await the final hour
And though I’ve often failed Him
In these thirty rocky years
His mercy brought me this far
And His love has dried my tears
I’m turning thirty
(I’ll treasure these years)
I’m turning thirty, and that’s alright
(I’ll treasure these years)
I’m turning thirty, yeah
(I’ll treasure these years)
I’m turning thirty, yeah, yeah
Sung by: Randy Stonehill
Even though the day I heard this song may seem as if it were just “yesterday,” the reality is that thirty-seven years have passed since then. It is amazing to realize that in that time period we came to Christ, birthed two babies, made several moves related to Mark’s business, raised our daughters, put them through college, paid for their weddings, welcomed seven grandchildren into this world, I went through menopause (that seemed like an eternity!), we entered full-time vocational ministry, said our final good-byes to grandparents and parents, journeyed with friends through cancer and other life crisis, the raising of their children, weddings, baby showers, etc., walked eleven years through Mark’s neurological disease and death, began the Secrets Ministry, and on and on I could go. As quickly as I have written this list, the years have passed.
Now at age 67, I can say with Randy:
And lately I’ve been taking stock of all that I’ve been through. I tend to do this with each New Year.
I had a husband who really loved me, he made my life so sweet. The goodness of a godly husband has been a rich blessing. Truly, Mark loved me like no other!
And two little baby daughters who used to play games around my feet. “Children are a gift from the Lord.”
And I have friends who care about me. They’re the best I’ve ever had. And they always stood behind me whenever times got bad. Truly, I have been blessed with godly women who have unconditionally loved me through these years.
Well, now sixty-seven ain’t like fifteen and it’s not like twenty-five, my back’s a little stiff, and there’re some lines around my eyes. But I’ve still got my energy and I’ve got most of my hair, and I’m not too old to rock’ n roll and I’m not really scared of turning sixty-eight, yeah, yeah. I had to laugh a little to think that at age thirty the singer was experiencing a stiff back and lines around his eyes. On occasion, I have a stiff back, and we aren’t going to talk about the lines around the eyes, forehead, or mouth. I am just grateful for good health, a head full of hair, and that I can dance my way into sixty-eight without fear.
Oh, 2024 looks like tough times, the world is turning sour. So, I’ll keep on serving Jesus and await my final hour. And though I’ve often failed Him in these sixty-seven rocky years, His mercy brought me this far and His love has dried my tears. How grateful I am that in these tough times, I can rest in the Sovereignty of God; He has it all under His divine control! He has never failed me, His mercy has brought me this far, and truly His love has dried every tear. I am going to keep on serving Jesus until that final hour.
What will you do in the next eleven months that will count for all of eternity? I would encourage you to wisely invest these swiftly passing days. Those investments are what you will leave behind!
Dianne
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17 ESV
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 ESV