The next last thing

Last week I attended my cousin, Kelly's, wedding.  She's 24.  She's full of life, adventure and new beginnings, and so are all her friends - all those 20 some year olds.  I enjoyed chatting with each of them.  Whether or not they realize it, they have a world of possibilities right in front of them. Many of them went to the University of Alabama and then dispersed throughout the country after college.  I admire that - no fear to spread your wings & I pray for big wings for Jay and Nick.  I started to reflect on my 20's.  There was probably a big part of me who was afraid to spread my wings, fearful of what the great unknown might have had in store for my 20 something self.  I shared this with my sister who asked me what I would have done differently, and when she asked me I laughed and said, Nothing!  I'm exactly where I believe God planted me.  In my 20's I was over the moon crazy about Mike and became his bride at 23.  When I think of my 20's I think of my youth and being in love, like the kind of intoxicating love you feel only when you're young.  I made my closest friends in my 20's who remain dear to me to this day.  I wasn't at all rooted in my faith, and I wasn't centered on my career, I just wanted a job with a steady income, which God provided me with.  I remember my 20's fondly & when I was chatting with those 20 some year olds at the wedding I wanted to grab their fresh faces, and tell them to enjoy this time, as they won't get it back.  In fact the 20's are gone in a blink of an eye.  I read somewhere that the best stages of life are the 20's and 60's.  So where does that leave the 30's, 40's and 50's?  While I can't speak about the 50's, as I'm 43.  I can speak about the 30's.  I see my 30's as the next last thing.  I had two boys who would run into my arms when I came home from work.  One day it stopped.  I don't know when but there was always one stage ending and another one beginning, the next last thing.  I made big mistakes in my 30's - parenting mistakes, financial mistakes, and probably mistakes in my marriage.  By the end of my 30's I felt like I was finally catching my breath.  My babies weren't babies but in elementary school!  Where had the time gone?  In just three short years I've experienced the most growth in who I am in my 40's.  I'm comfortable in my own skin.  I don't waste time with people who bring me down, and I'm slowly starting to accept that uncomfortable, yet necessary thing in life called, letting go of your children.  As the progression unfolds, it shapes me.  I'm pretty sure God is doing the shaping and the molding, preparing me for the next last thing, as He always has.