Ree, at The Pioneer Woman, posted a question today - it hit home and HARD with me!
How is your life today compared to how you THOUGHT it would be 10....20 years ago?
Last month I turned 50!
So I guess this is a very good time to look back, see where you've been, unexpected blessings you received and missed opportunities you regret.
I don't know that regret is the correct word for things, opportunities and people I missed. Maybe it is. I don't think I'm where I thought I would be 20 years ago. I guess I thought I would be "further down the road" to the dreams I had, goals I had set, prayers I KNEW would be answered by now!
I don't think my life would ever be used as an example of "The Way To Do It" - I have probably made every bad decision, wrong choice and missed opportunity allowed in one life-time. But somehow, someway I have also experience incredible blessings, untold mercy and grace and the precious forgiveness of those I have saddened and hurt.
You don't get an instruction manual when you start this journey called "Your Life" - it's a whole lot of trial and error. God very gently gives us His guide called the Bible.....then He also gives us our will - me, he gave a very strong one!!! Because He loves us so much - He did not create us to be His little robots - He gave us choices - to live or die, obedience or stubbornness, willfulness or dependence on Him.
I have gone through so many stages of my life - some I have had to do over and over and over again!! I am a survivor - but I have made it so hard on myself at times. Most of the difficult times and circumstances I have had to endure have been because of my own doing!!
Someone looked at me the other day and said, "You have lived 5 lifetimes". I probably have. But I have also learned lotz of lessons, had many "light bulb" moments (some, a day late and a dollar short!) and many, many second chances!!!
No, I am not where I wanted to be at 50 - but I am not through, yet!....and God has promised me grace enough for today!!
