Beth Jones, International Speaker, Author, & Coach

Today is my birthday. The number doesn’t matter. I’m just thankful to God, because each year and each day are a gift and a blessing from Him.

I know some “old people” who seem very young in mind, heart, and body. And I know other young and  middle-aged people who seem much older than they are, old as Methuselah! (Genesis 5:21-27) I don’t want to wind up like those people who are old, decrepit, and sitting or laying around all day, doing nothing but worrying and talking about their ailments in every conversation!

I want to have an exciting, FUN, ADVENTUROUS, life, filled to the brim and overflowing with God’s joy, peace, and love. To experience serendipity ~ pleasant surprises. New, thrilling things around every corner.

A life yielded to God, feeling His smile upon me. In the movie Chariots of Fire,  runner Eric Liddell said, “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.” I want to feel God’s pleasure when He looks at me and my life. 

Doing all He has called me to do and being who He’s called me to be – a woman of God.

Reflecting God’s light and love to a dark, confused, fear-filled world. I don’t want to just pass time here on Earth, living in mediocrity, but to leave heart prints on people’s lives. To touch them with Jesus’ power.

Although I’m just an ordinary woman, I want others to see that I, like the disciples, “had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13) I want to leave an unmistakable, eternal, unique mark here. I want to be a great person, something that I think is rare. How many great people have you known in your life?

As I have become older, and the grey hairs are coming in faster now, the wrinkles more prevalent, I realize how I’m so not 20- or 30-something any more with its seeming fountain of eternal youth (the mirror doesn’t lie!). But I recognize how important God, my family, and other people are ~ and how little physical appearance, material things, the things of this world, mean. How transient, fragile, and empty they really are. 

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-24, ESV)

God’s, others’, and my love are what last and what really matter. “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

My desire is to walk in God’s purpose for my life, to use my spiritual gifts, talents, and skills to glorify God and to help others.

As Erma Bombeck said, “”When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, “I used everything you gave me.” This is my hope, too.

I want to count each day’s blessings. Several years ago, my beautiful, sweet friend Julia told me how she approached each new day. “Every morning when I wake up, it’s like God has this big bag full of presents just for me and those I love. And I excitedly open up those presents and blessings that are for today and I thank Him and use them.” Are you opening yours?

By now, I have lived long enough to know (although I don’t like it at all!) that sometimes “blessings come through raindrops” and “trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise.” (Blessings song by Laura Story).

“It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting.” (Ecclesiastes 7:2, NASB)

To get that life isn’t all about fun, or about me, me, me.

To recognize that it’s better to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)

To understand that tomorrow is not promised and that today is all I (and you) have, and to live it to the utmost. Not taking a single moment for granted.

Regret is a poor teacher. Gratitude is a great companion. Hope and faith are excellent pilots.

Today on my birthday, I feel enriched with the love of God, family, and friends. I’m so very thankful for every “Happy Birthday” wish from my family, friends, and acquaintances, whether that is in person, on Facebook or Instagram, in an email, or through snail mail. For the “Happy Birthday to you” song that my friends Liz and Stephanie and my sister Maria sang to me yesterday. For the lovely card my friend Kim in Florida mailed to me.

I’m so grateful for the gorgeous sunflowers and the vivid purple statice that my husband Ray brought me home, with a beautiful unique card, and wireless ear phones. I’m so very thankful that our sweet daughter Leah treated me to lunch this week for my birthday at Hawaiian Brothers and for her “Happy Birthday, mom!” text this morning to me. And for my precious daughter Heather’s text, “Happy birthday, Mom! Love you and hope you had a great day!” after she got off work.

My heart is full and so thankful for our three beautiful daughters Heather, Eden, and Leah, and our precious grandchildren. And oh yes, for my cat Natalya and our daughter Leah’s cat Jax!

I’m an exceedingly blessed woman. And I pray that my “latter days shall be greater than the former.” (Haggai 2:9)

That I’ll live wiser in my older years than my younger ones, that I’ll love and laugh much more, and that I’ll see the beauty of God all around me daily, even in the messy, painful places –like 2020’s craziness and chaos. To find the good, dig out life’s gold in the mire.

May this new year bring God’s abundant goodness and more fulfillment of His purpose in my life to glorify Him. I pray for new, exciting, fun adventures are around the corner!

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