When I was in my 20’s I started longing to be in my 40s?
It wasn’t that I didn't have any fun. I was having the time of my life:
married, no kids, double income, busy in ministry, traveling the world to help
other people. I loved my life. But something seemed to be missing as I soaked up
the words of my 40 year old friends. First of all, the fact that a 40 year old (mature) woman would spend more than 5 minutes in conversation with me…..is total miracle! Why? because as a 20 something
year old, I was a “know it all” who viewed life thru the eyes of today with no
care for the future. Voting was optional, kids were definite and I was gonna be
a definite good mom. I was always right, you were wrong.
As you well know, not every 40 year old woman embodies these traits below. Goodness, I know women in their 60s that still don't have their heads on right. Then again, I've met women in their 20s and 30s who peeked early in life.....boo on them! :) These are merely my young observations...not facts! So what was it that I saw in those 40 year old women that caused me to temporarily wish away my 20s? I noticed a few things about
them.
1. They don’t care what others
think. It isn’t that they are unmindful
of othes' opinions; they are just not allowing
those opinions to clout or leverage their fashion, values, or physical shape!
They are untainted by the insignificant values that pour out of culture of today.
2. They are resolute moms with a
passionate purpose in life. They don’t seem
to be
mindlessly wandering through the forest of morals/values. Their minds are made up on what
is best for
their kids.
3. They
know what they want to be as a grown up! They are actively pursuing
their dreams,
hobbies, and job of choice. It is never too late to start back to
School or
start training for a marathon. Why not?
4. Dating their
hubby is a deep conviction that they wouldn’t sell. Date nights
are precious,
common, and most of all fun. Because they actually live with their man
and choose not to merely co-exist, they respect their best friend. They choose not to
degrade him in public or private. They protect him at all costs and boasts of his strengths.
5. They are
at peace with their feminine shape. They have gracefully accepted the
battle scars, stretch
marks, and any other mommy ‘medals’ that come along with
age and parenthood. That
doesn’t mean they embrace the idea of letting the body die to waste and
junk food.
It just means they don’t fret over the scars, wrinkles, and shapes that
they cannot
control or change. Fix what they can, welcome the rest.
6. They
stop taking theirselves so seriously and instead take life a little more
seriously.
Voting is important, recycling is a good habit, and visiting all
the food
groups, not just the breads and desserts, becomes a healthy life style.
Diets don’t
exist, just healthy eating plans.
7. The need
to be heard and liked by everyone at the party becomes obsolete.
They are
the ones at parties that have conjured up a small group of other
women and are
just enjoying the conversation of a few instead of the eyes of
many!
Listening is more important than speaking.
8. Topic of
conversation seems to be less about decorating, new toys, and
fashion and
more about the future of family, our country, and compassion
for other
people.
9. They are
open to others' opinions and are not always bent on being right. They are willing to
hear what others
say before expressing theirselves, and at times holding back
and wisely
choosing their words.
10. They see the big picture in
life! Life isn’t about her but Him and understanding how He uses her to serve
everyone else. Life is bigger than her. She
is only a part of this temporal time on earth. Bottom line- she gives everything over to God.
Now, I still have 3 more years to go before I cross over and thank goodness! I could barely cross out 2 of those traits listed above. So there is hope; I have 3 more years to grow! But I am enjoying today and looking forward to tomorrow. No looking backwards.........that causes serious tripping and knocking into things like pride, self-pity and other ugly traits.
I have been graciously blessed by many seasoned women who have entered life ahead of me with elegance, wisdom, and a spirit of humility. They continue to leave deep impressions on my soul with their gentle guiding and leading. Thank you Lori, Janie, Sheryl, Robin, Maryanne, Lisa, Julie, Barbara, Marcia and Amy, Kineka, Helen, and Mom. If their names don't give away their generation, then what does! I love it! I was inspired to write this as my friends Julie and Diana approach a new decade in the next few weeks. They are amazingly beautiful women who have greatly inspired me :)
I have been graciously blessed by many seasoned women who have entered life ahead of me with elegance, wisdom, and a spirit of humility. They continue to leave deep impressions on my soul with their gentle guiding and leading. Thank you Lori, Janie, Sheryl, Robin, Maryanne, Lisa, Julie, Barbara, Marcia and Amy, Kineka, Helen, and Mom. If their names don't give away their generation, then what does! I love it! I was inspired to write this as my friends Julie and Diana approach a new decade in the next few weeks. They are amazingly beautiful women who have greatly inspired me :)
And yes........that is me when I was in third grade with my BFF. Here I am many decades later with a daughter the same age as I was in that picture. Life really does fly!
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