From My First 30 Years

I'm back. Did you miss me?

I have neglected the blog over this past month and a half or so and I am sorry. I can't promise that I will post very often in the near future because I'm going into the busiest time of year for me. However, please check in from time to time (if you want to). I may just suprise you.

I want to talk a little about my upcoming birthday. I am at this moment 2 days shy of my 30th Birthday. I have big plans for the day. I have to renew my license and meet with our insurance agent during the morning. When I have finished with those things, I vow to do as little as possible for the rest of the day. One Christmas my dad said he was "living by the rule of 30" which meant that he was not getting more than 30 feet away from his recliner that day. That's my plan for this Friday.

Seeing that most of my readership is older than me, I thought I would share some of what I've learned over the past 30 years. So for those of you who are not yet 30, learn from the wisdom of my years. For those who are older, feel free to laugh.

1. No one is perfect, but most people expect you to be.

This is especially true of people who have lots of insecurities themselves, business associates and inlaws. Usually, the fewer problems people have themselves and the better they know you, the less they will expect you to be perfect. Take for example, my mother. She knows me better than most anyone and she overlooks my shortcomings. When she doesn't overlook them, it is only to help me in correcting them. The level of perfection you expect from a person is usually relative to your love for them.

2. When you pay off a bill, expect another one to come in its place (and soon).

Shortly after Lewis and I got married I began working hard to pay off a hospital bill. I had it paid in full by the time we had been married about a year. About a month after I finished sending the checks, he woke up in the middle of the night with a kidney stone. He had no health insurance at the time and we ended up spending half the night in the emergency room. The charges amounted to a little over $1000. Since then we have carried a balance with the hospital. A couple of times I have thought about paying off our debt there when we experienced a windfall, but I always put the money toward something else. At least we have our health.

3. Love is blind, but when you really love someone (in a romantic way) you should try to look your best.

I know quite a few ladies who let themselves go after they got married. If you really love your husband, shouldn't you want him to stay attracted to you? Besides, isn't feeling pretty one of the best things about love? Wear make-up and attractive clothes. Exercise and eat right. You'll be healthier, happier and feel like you've just fallen in love longer. It's good for your husband to know you care about such things too.

4. The things you will enjoy most in life are usually the product of lots of hoping and waiting and praying.

This has become the thing I say to myself whenever I feel like we need to run out and buy a house right away. With the exception of Laney, the people and things I enjoy most in my life all came to me after years of hopeful praying. Let me give you a short list: Lewis, Marley, my years at Campbell University, etc.

5. And sometimes the greatest blessings are complete surprises!

Take Laney for example.

6. God's grace is sufficient.

Most people don't understand have even the slightest grasp of what grace really means. Even the majority of Christians will claim they live under grace while trying to work their way into heaven. Grace is all you need.

7. Love one another.

Even when it's hard. Even when you have to swallow your pride to do so. Love one another.