Happy New Year! There was no way I would let my 50th year of life pass by and not make it meaningful. For months I thought of things I could do to make the year special. Finally, a 12-month bucket list was what sounded like the most fun. The last thing I wanted to do was to turn 51, and WISH I'd have done something memorable.
April has been a month of "letter-writing" for me. Beginning April 1st, each day, I went to the mailbox and dropped in an envelope to someone I either admired greatly, or who had touched my life in some profound way. I began of course, by thanking my mother for the sacrifices her and dad made to give us the very best education, and the coolest vacations, and a lot of great childhood memories. Other letters went out to all kinds of people. I wrote letters to people I admired for a strong commitment to their marriages, despite very difficult and trying times, to friends who have put their careers on hold to care for their aging parents, to a young woman who stayed pure until marriage, despite being made fun of by her peers, and to a childhood friend who never stopped loving his wife or believing their marriage could and would survive, despite the opinions of others. I wrote letters to my sons, who are good men with a high sense of integrity I pray to have one day. I wrote letters to mothers who lose sleep while praying for their children (and grandchildren), to a woman who cares for her special needs brother and loves him and cares for him with the patience of a saint. I wrote to a young woman with a heart for God that is infectious, to encourage her to keep listening to Jesus as she does street ministry. I wrote to another mother who works full time while caring for her young daughter with cancer, to a couple I have known for many years who home schooled their children and sacrificed a lot to give them the best start in life, to a woman I know who has adopted two beautiful young boys, and is doing a marvelous job raising them. I wrote letters to a couple who doesn't even know me, to tell them the impact their ministry has had on the lives of not just my family, but so many others I know and love. I wrote to a woman I love who has one of the most incredible testimonies I have ever heard, and is not ever afraid or ashamed to share her faith, no matter who it may offend. I wrote to a young lady who was living a wild lifestyle until she came to know Jesus very recently, and then did a 180 degree turn and is now following Him wholeheartedly despite the young college life peer pressure, and to the best "boss" I ever had, because he taught me how NOT to judge (because he did not judge me!), and taught me how to LEAD, and not PUSH. I wrote to a young lady and her husband who foster young babies, despite knowing when they have to give them back, it's going to break their hearts, and to two other families with special needs children, to a young lady who prays constantly that her parents would accept Christ some day, and to a woman I know who faced her greatest fear and was obedient to God all the way to another country, which was about as far out of her comfort zone as was possible, to a young man who follows Christ, is a good friend to my sons and genuinely cares for and worries about other kids, and to a young father who had his son dedicated at church and was courageous and man enough to shed tears as he expressed his love for his new son.
As I look back at the list of people I wrote to, and what it is that I admire about them or how they have affected my life, I'm in awe at the circle of people the Lord has blessed me to have in my life. I see reflections in Him in so many people. I see how God loves us in all of the parents I know. It took me until about half-way through the month to realize a few things - First, some of those attributes of people were some I was striving to have for myself, which means people are unknowingly pouring into my life. I also realized that as I was observing the unselfishness of parents, young and old, who are awake at night worrying and praying for their children and grandchildren, that it is exactly how the Lord loves us. No matter how far we wander, He never, ever stops loving us or longing for us to run to him, (even with our issues!). He has gifted me with so many ordinary, yet extraordinary people in my life through which I can see the very character of who He is! I suppose we never really know who is watching us. I had so much fun writing these letters. I have enjoyed every single one of them, have prayed for each person for that day, smiled ear to ear as I dropped them into the mail box, and I am just as excited to write the next six!
I thought it was MY bucket list. But now, I believe the Lord is standing back and giggling with me as I stand back with a different view and realize, it isn't really all about me! It just might be HIS bucket list for me! He just may have wanted to show me a deeper glimpse of who He is.
Next month, I have a much different activity planned. I am going to be taking a sign language class, something I have ALWAYS wanted to do. I have been excited about that for months. But now, I'm even more excited knowing that God is likely up to teaching me something again!
Why did I wait to turn 50 to start a bucket list?
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