Unexpected Surprise & Birthday Reflections

Today is my birthday, it’s a big one but I’ll get to that later.  In the span of a week (give or take a few days), my husband, son-in-law, and mother had a birthday.  But…the icing on the cake, was my sweet little grandson arriving in the world this week, much to our surprise, 3 weeks early.   I can’t ask for a better birthday present than that.  He is a healthy 7 lbs, 1 oz.

My daughter called me week and said "I just thought I'd wake you in the middle of the night to see if you think August 28th would be a good day for the baby to have a birthday?"  Well, the rest is history.  When he arrived later that day, he was officially declared a baby boy, although ultrasound suspected as such.

So . . reality struck that I'm actually 50 years old now.  Half a century; I’ve lived 5 decades;  I’m officially “over the hill”.   Being a grandmother helps it to sink in a little better.  

I’d like to think that over these 50 years that I've been alive, I've learned a thing or two.  On my 50th birthday, I’d like to share 50 things I've learned. I’m certainly not perfect, but as I age, the things on this list have become easier to accomplish.  In no particular order, here they are:

1. Less is more, keep it simple
2. Teach children Bible verses at a young age
3. Sometimes it's better to listen than to speak
4. Apologize when appropriate, Forgiveness is mandatory
5. Don't speak when angry
6. The gas gauge in my car is there for a reason
7. Things don't matter, people do
8. Appreciate every day
9. Have peace, and rest in the promise that God is in control
10. Look for the blessings each day has to offer
11. Be a good mother-in-law
12. Respect my husband
13. Giving is better than receiving
14. Don't panic
15. Help if I see a need and am able to fulfill it
16. Teach children to be respectful
17. Be kind
18. Read my Bible every day
19. Pray before I make decisions
20. Children are people too, be respectful of their feelings
21. Send real mail more often
22. Don't be judgmental
23. Take children to Sunday School & Church as young as possible
24. Compliment others
25. Don't think of myself as better than others
26. Don't use social media as a place to get out frustration
27. Send thank you notes
28. Think before I speak
29. Put the needs of my family ahead of my own
30. Candid photos are sometimes better than posed
31. Family doesn't have to be blood relation
32. Be silly with kids, they love it
33. If I have nothing nice to say, be silent
34. If it's not my news, don't tell it, text it, tweet it, or type it
35. Laughter is good
36. Be content with what I have, don't be jealous of others
37. Be sensitive to the needs & feelings of others
38. Don't leave wet laundry in machine more than a day
39. Give hugs
40. Patience is a virtue
41. Don't worry about tomorrow, God is already there
42. Be Thankful
43. Don't be surprised with answered prayer
44. Trust God's will for my life, wholeheartedly
45. Accept a compliment or gift with gratitude
46. Reading a book to a child is more important than dishes
47. Go outside, breathe in God's creation
48. Don't sweat the small stuff, it will steal my joy
49. Prioritize family over obligations
50. Accept help when needed or offered

This list is certainly not complete, but I enjoyed reflecting on these 50 things. My life has not been without trials, but I believe they have helped shape my character.  I can truly say I am content, and have a joyful heart.  My contentment and joy comes from a faith based belief in Jesus as my Savior. I've put two links below if you'd like to know more about that.  

Little Birdie Blessings ~ Eternal Destination
FYI - My post "Eternal Destination", since it was published in 2012 has been viewed close to 10,000 times - making it one of the top posts of the hundreds I've written. 

Proverbs 31 Ministries ~ Do you Know Jesus?

Thank you for visiting today.  Have a wonderful week.