On this eve of my 63rd birthday I find myself reflecting on the past year while in the midst of praying and planning for the year ahead. I must admit that God has taught me many things since my 62nd birthday. Some I’ve shared with you here and some things I’ve chosen to keep to myself. I am sure there is much I have yet to learn. Some random things from the past year:

• I spent more than a couple of weeks at a time away from home.
• I spent way too long away from my husband while he was working a state away.
• I learned that if people truly desire to spend time with you, they will Zoom or FaceTime.
• My youngest grandchild started school as she entered kindergarten.
• My oldest grandchild became engaged to be married.
• I was reminded that not all who like to be talkers are women.
• I came to the understanding that if you have committed to serving the church that means you serve all who would be the church.
• I was reminded that to honor God requires me to be prayerful in all matters, faithful in my example to others, and obedient to the teachings of scripture.
• I taught the books of Ruth and Esther to a fun group of ladies at my church.
• With God’s help I led a team of ladies through a four-part series of Bible interpretation workshops.
• I surprised myself by what I could do at my age.
• I surprised myself by what I couldn’t do at my age.
• I was reminded that people generally want to be of help but you have to ask.

I am thankful to the Lord for sustaining me in my 62nd year of life. I need to daily affirm the truth of God’s unfailing love – God is very different from us, so his works are beyond our ability to fully comprehend. He uses the times that press us to expose our hearts, to teach us to depend on Him, and to train us in our faith and practice. Of this I’m sure, God is working in me and through me. And once again, on this birthday eve, I must ask myself have I redeemed this time over the past year by using my talents, by blessing others with my gifts, by making the most of every opportunity? Have I consulted God to determine my steps or have I determined my own course? May God be honored in what is done in my gift of days.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes. Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 

– Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Jas 4:13–15.