Today I am turning the big 4-0. I’m divorced – not married. No children. Not a homeowner. I am extremely happy – life is good.

I’ve lived all over the country. I am well traveled. I’m doing really well in my career. I’m fit and healthy, in fact I’m in the best shape of my life. Incredible friends. The best family. Phenomenal boyfriend.

No “poor me”. Some may see a woman on her own and tsk tsk. “No kids, not married, turning forty, what’s wrong with her?”

They don’t see the blessings. 

I have friends all over the country. We’re all reaching (or have reached) this milestone birthday. There’s a lot of pressure on the combination of those two scary numbers four and oh!

Their loved ones are stressing – what to do to celebrate? Plan a party? Vacation or staycation? What to buy? It turns into a great big deal, not as big as a wedding, but certainly not as humdrum as any other birthday. At the end of the day, isn’t it just another birthday? 

I’m not looking to get-away. I have no desire to be the center of attention or the object of heartfelt toasts. Because I love life every day.

Okay, maybe today I take the day off from work and do a midday yoga class. I’m figuring my boyfriend and I will go out and have a nice dinner, low key – a one man happy birthday serenade, where I’ll sit back and smile.

40 is simply a number. A beautiful number as it turns out. It has no influence, it causes no pain. You know what really matters? Enjoying every God-given stage in life.

40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100.  All decades that usher in newfound insights. New opportunities. More maturity, more grace, more to be grateful for.

No, I’m not freaking out because I am not where I thought I would be at forty. Instead I celebrate that I am where I never imagined I could be. I have surpassed my younger expectations’ and blew by the small-minded goals I had set for myself.

My forties will be ever better than the decades past when I’ve lived and learned. Yes, I am aging. Like whiskey sitting in its charred oak barrel – flavor intensifying, bitters turning mellow, I get better with age.

By Rachel Diamond

 

*editors note*

Happy birthday to my baby girl. Forty years ago today God answered my prayers and gave you life. Every day since has been pure joy having you as my daughter. 

- Susan Diamond

 

 

PRAYERS FOR MY FAMILY MEMBERS
 

Please pray urgently for my sons Russell and Sydney living in sin and rebellion against Gods word. Pray for my daughter who recently moved back home after breaking up with her boyfriend to have favor on her new job and heal from the mental verbal and physical abuse she was in and draw closer to God. Pray for My in-laws who are prideful and unforgiving with a jezabel /Ahab spirit that is tearing their family - pray the family be restored.

 

Please urgently pray for my brother Mike who is addicted to drugs and needs help, He is on probation, and committing adultery please pray he repents and is healed from drug addiction and sexual immorality. Please pray for my mother Edna suffering from mental illness has been in the hospital for the for mental illness. She has her own apt now pray that she is healed and gets the help she needs for daily living she says something is inside of her.

 

Please urgently pray for my sister Tracey who is living in adultery with her daughter Keva's ex boy friend Derek she and the ex boy friend are on drugs and her marriage is in trouble both her and her husband Doug have been unfaithful in their marriage pray for restoration of her marriage and family. Pray my sisters family all repent and forgive each other. Pray that this ungodly relationship between my sister and her daughters ex boy friend ends. Pray that my brother in law Doug would have courage and wisdom to be the spiritual leader provider and protector in his marriage. Please pray for my entire family to receive salvation to humble themselves before the Lord and repent of their sins and forgive each other.

 

Pray that the attack on my family ends and the generational curses would be removed and all that was lost would be restored. Please pray the enemy would be defeated and salvation,righteousness and holiness would be restored to our family. Also pray for my husband James who is estranged from his son and family. Pray for favor in his life with God and man and that all that has been stolen from us be restored tenfold We ask it all in the Name of the Lord.  Amen