My 1/4 of a Century

Well I have finally achieved 25 years. It is hard to believe that I have been in this living and breathing world that long, but as I look back over my life and try to think of someway to sum it up and the only word that I think is fitting is "Blessed." I think back to my beginning and those days are a little foggy. Little wonder huh? One thing I have been told by my mother was when I was a child the doctors believed I had a hole in my heart. Mom and Dad where going in for more testing to confirm this suspicion, but before they did they had the church family gather around me and had me annointed. As the test results came back they found nothing, I was a healthy baby. Maybe the doctors where wrong or maybe the "Doctor" healed me. Growing up I have thought about that many times how maybe I am a miracle to be alive and healthy. Who knows?
In my 25 years I have experienced many things. In the Physical: I have known how it feels to have stiches in my forehead. Although I don't really remember the pain or the actual incident, I do remember some preacher told me if I was good he would give me a candy bar. I was and I got a Snickers. I had many other scrapes and bruises, but not a broken bone. I have learned that jumping off to many stairs and falling off porches can do numbers to your ankles. I have had to have my appendix taken out at a young age, and the sickness I felt before that I never want to have again. In my time I have been in approx. 4 car accidents. One of which I still suffer from neck and shoulder pain. The other I watched a man throw a cement chunk thru our window and knocked out our driver. From that time I have been a nervous person when we stop in the city at night for a stop light at a pedestrian filled street.
In the Emotional: I have known what it is like to be scared. I was a scardey cat of a child. (and to be honest I still am!!) I would go into my room and yell into my closet, under my bed and in my bath room....thinking I just might scare the "bad guy." I always had my night light on and clutched my stuffed rabbit "Jenny" and even had my bible clutched to my chest. I thought the closer the Bible was to my body the more I was protected. I know how it was to be excited for vacations and christmas. My vacations usually started out with 2 teaspoons of Pepto to ward of the stomache ache due to excitement. (something I still have to do) I have learned that friends have to work harder at being friends as adults, due to the busyness of life. Also I have learned the people you think are hero's are really just "people" and they are capable of mistakes and causing hurt feelings. I remember how I felt the first time I thought I was in love and remember experiencing true love. I also remember the first kiss, first boyfriend and so many other firsts associated with the chemistry between boy and girl. I remember the feeling I felt when I slipped on my beautiful wedding dress and walking down the aisle and pledging my life to my best friend. I look forward to the next 25 years of my life and being able to spend them making memories with Jonathan.
In the Spiritual: From what Mom tells me I was 3 the first time I felt the tender nudge of Jesus and asked him into my heart. As far as I know I have always been a tender person when it comes to matters of the soul. I had some of my teenage stubbornness and sneakiness, but to be honest I don't remember a night that went by during that time that I didn't have the fear that Jesus would come back and I wouldn't be ready. I remember so many nights praying and asking forgiveness and vowing to do better the next day. Thank God He is so faithful!!!! I remember sitting in so many revival services and campmeetings and seeing and experiencing the movement of the Holy Spirit and seeing Him work thru his saints. I have grown more in the last few years than I ever have. In the last few months God has been doing some digging around me, and as much as it has hurt I have been thankful that God has seen fit to work on me to make me more how he would see fit. In the next few years I am going to be starting school to become a nurse and then before long I will be a mommy. Even though I am having to wait longer than I had planned, I am sure that God will be faithful and continue shaping me into the mother He wants me to be.
I am thankful to God for bringing me thru the first 25 years of my life, for giving me a Christian family and a wonderful Christian husband and many wonderful friends. I have been blessed!!!