The Beginning of a New Decade

Today was my 60th birthday. I can say with honesty that I did not become that number gracefully. Was it the actual number that bothered me, the leading up to it, or my general grouchiness that smacked me in the face this weekend? I will never know the answer, and I doubt if others care, with the exception of my sweet husband who quietly endured it all. Being in a nasty funk, very unusual for me (in my humble opinion), I did not go to church, also a very unusual happening for me. Hubby did go to church, but returned home with a diet fountain Coke for me and the bread that he needed to make tuna melts (my request) for lunch. He made the lunch, cleaned up, and related stories of the sharing that went on in church today. I would have enjoyed hearing both in person, but would have been a blubbering fool in church because of the way that I was feeling, plus the compassion that I have for both of these gentlemen who shared their stories. As fate would have it, both men's stories involved missions, and both men talked about Juarez and their missions to that place. I will be departing for the first time in my life to Juarez in less than three weeks for my first mission any place outside of my own little town... And the reason for the delay is that I've never felt like I was cut out to do a mission. We shall see... Our neighbor asked if she could bring me a cake, and I told her "no," that it would only add weight, which would make me feel worse than I'm already feeling. I did have a bit of a shock when the telephone rang this afternoon and a voice that sounded exactly like my mother's started singing the Happy Birthday song that my mother was famous for. It was her sister, whose voice is remarkably like mothers! Hubby and I went to the grocery store, then came home and went for a walk. Our neighbor was waiting on the front porch with a cake when we returned!!! And I must admit that it is a light, delicious cake that doesn't feel heavy on the calories. We then went to the same neighbor's home to check out her recent remodeling and ended up staying for popcorn popped in her new popper, similar to what banks have in their lobbies sometimes. It was delightful to share popcorn and stories. I asked if I could bring some home to the birdies, as she does not pop her corn with salt. There were three messages waiting for me. The first was from a friend who wanted to quickly run something over to our house. The second was from a dear aunt in Arkansas, and the third was from our golfing friends. The first call ended with a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers being delivered to our door by the same charming voice who had left the first message. This young woman seems to have a sixth sense about people and their needs. I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the flowers, but more so by the love of our Lord shown to me in such an unexpected way. The second call was returned en route to pick up our friends (the third call) for dinner. Considering that I talked to the two grandchildren who can talk and all three of our adult children, received flowers, a cake, a delicious lunch, dinner out with friends, and God's expression of love shown in more ways than I probably even saw, I would say that perhaps 60 is not going to be so bad after all.