The best is yet to be.
It was way too early to wake up.
Joe was tossing and turning next to me, flipping around like a tuna caught in a net, and I was just about to turn over and tell him he better stop fidgeting or I was going to kick his ass.
Then I remembered that today was his birthday.
When you’re married to someone for a while, you get pretty used to their jokes…in fact you can hear an oldie coming at you from far down the road. So by today I’d heard enough about his joke that he hadn’t started age 50 therapy yet.
But the truth is? He’s not ready for 50. I had my orders: no jokes, no black decorations, no party, and I’d better not even tell anyone he’s having a birthday (oops, you guys don’t count). I think I can understand. At 50, you’re pretty much set on a course; you’ve finally figured out the finance things and you at least have a plan for how you’re not going to live in a cardboard box upon retirement. Your career path is fairly plain; you know who your friends are. But Joe’s 50th is marked with uncertainty, false starts, and an aching wonder about whether his efforts have really mattered.
I know that God has wonderful things in store for him, things that we wouldn’t have even imagined if we were in charge instead of God. I know that Joe looks and acts younger than the 50 year olds I know, and that he’s hardly even delved into his potential. I wish he knew these things as I know them; I wish he could see his future as the sunny path through the meadow that I see. I am hoping that however his birthday turns out, I am able to pass on a little of that belief to him.
Published by angelawd on July 29th, 2008 tagged Life With the Big Guy
July 29th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Happy birthday to Joe!
July 29th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Looks like I will just have to eat some cake for him…no, no, don’t try and stop me…
July 29th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Did you get that book from Kalynne yet? I was just rereading mine - it is such a shot in the arm. Go, me!
July 30th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Happy birthday (a day late) Joe!
Angela, John’s is the 3rd, they’re practically twins. And have to tell you, his life hasn’t been marked by great choices financially and I know that bothers him. He sees his friends/brothers set in their lives and stable while we scramble everytime something major arises. I hate it!
xo
August 12th, 2008 at 3:42 am
Happy belated birthday, Joe. When my hubby turned 50 he decided that his main goal in life was to get his bachelors degree. And he did it. In 3-1/2 years. He graduated last weekend with a 3.99. So, you see, 50 is just another starting place. Now go out there and run rings around the snot-nosed kids who think they know it all. ;o)