Happy Birthday to Me!

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5

The meek are those who quietly submit themselves to God, to His word, and to His rod, who follow directions, and comply with His designs and are gentle towards all men. Who can bear provocation without being inflamed by it; are either silent, or return a soft answer.

Who can show their displeasure when there is occasion for it, without being transported into any indecencies; who can be cool when others are hot, and in their patience keep possession of their own souls, when they can scarcely keep possession of anything else.

They are the meek, who are rarely and hardly provoked, but quickly and easily pacified. Who would rather forgive twenty injuries than revenge one, having the rule over their own spirits. (Matthew Henry)

If I remember correctly, the morning I read this I found myself honking my horn at another driver. So needless to say this character of spirit I do not possess--yet. I thought of meekness as someone who has a wet noodle kind of personality. As I studied this verse, I came to realize that meekness is someone who has a rod of steel in their character. They have rule over their own spirit and rely solely on Christ's strength.

Yes, today is my birthday! It has been a wonderful month of birthday celebrations! I spent a girls weekend in South Carolina, my family had a wonderful party for me on Saturday, and today my daughter is going to spend the day with me. I took a personal day today in honor of my fifty years on earth. Okay, I said it, fifty years, it wasn't too bad.

I tend to look at my life in compartments; a box with different drawers that you pull out. I can remember being ten and down on my knees in my room praying for my grandparents. A drawer marked childhood. My teen years were as turbulent as anybody else. A drawer marked puberty. My twenties all I remember is being tired. It was the decade of marriage, young babies, and transitioning. A drawer marked twenty.

My thirties were my best years; I absolutely loved them. Raising children, going back to school for my degree, and having friends around. A drawer marked thirty.
My forties were really not the best; a lot of that is based on decisions that I made. Starting work, getting my masters, losing my grandparents, losing my father-in-law, my daughter getting married, and just a lot of transitioning--which sometimes I don't handle well. A drawer marked forty--finally closed.

Now here we are today; and my prayer this morning was, "Lord take whatever time I have left on this earth and help me to learn to tap into Your power."