Forty Days to be a Better Person

Well, it’s here.  I’m 40 today.

Hmmm.

That means this is the last installment in my 40 Days to 40 Journey: 40 Days to be a Better Person.

I think I didn’t achieve these goals particularly well.  First off, I have had a lot of unexpected twists that threw me for a loop and I may not have adapted as serenely as needed.  (Serenity is not my strong suit.)  Second, I haven’t actually tried that hard.  It’s not like I was up every morning praying and asking for God to radically improve my weak spots.  That was pretty evident.

This is what I idealistically aimed for forty days ago: Part of this will entail the good deed aspect…Part of this would hopefully result in some greater good for the world.  The only practical way I know is to give some specific things to meet a specific need, somewhat reflective of my 39 Things Challenge (I’m waiting for God to reveal this piece) and to see if I can find a way to have 40 World Vision children sponsored.  I’ll write more about this latter piece, but I sponsor Dickson from Zimbabwe and am so passionate about the work that Rich Stearns is doing.

I did some small things.  I cleaned out some closets and found a child with a specific need that could be met.  I reordered some priorities.  But I got mad over stupid stuff (this is a PG rated blog – I got in trouble this weekend for saying stupid, but here’s there no other good word).  I lost my temper.  I was selfish.  Yadayada.

So here’s what I’m going to focus on today.  World Vision sponsorships.  I love World Vision.  They are making a dramatic difference in the world.  A global positive change.  So if you are interested in wishing me a happy birthday, and forgot to go shopping, have I got the fix for you: just pop on over to World Vision.  I would LOVE it if you would sponsor a child.  If you’re looking for a shorter term commitment, then help Syria.  You know how heartbroken I have been over the Syrian atrocities and there is a way to directly donate to assist the child refugees in that community.  Friends, of the nearly two million refugees, ONE MILLION are children.  We must do something.

There’s a hundred other ways to help.  If you support victims of trafficking, then there’s a place to help.  If you want to assist with emergency aid, there’s a spot to support global hot spots.  Medical aid, clean water, shelter, you name it.  Just look around.  World Vision is serving a wide variety of significantly unmet needs.

This birthday feels different.  I’m actually a little sadder than I expected.  But I am immensely grateful for the love of my husband, children, family, and friends.  While celebrating my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday night, one of their friends looked at me and then at the children and said, “You are so RICH!”  I am richer than I dared hope.  For those blessings I am speechless.  And I am committed to serving the Lord more faithfully in these next ten years as I learn from both the wise and foolish choices of the last ten.

We all know the journey to being “a better person” can’t be accomplished in 40 years, much less 40 days.  But it was good to refocus on journey, the path taken, and the voice leading the way…

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3)