Where Are You in LIFE?

My kids and I were playing the game of LIFE this weekend. I was taken back when my oldest son stated, "Wow, mom, this is where you and dad are in life!" He pointed to three-quarters of the way to retirement. While this may be a slight exaggeration, I looked at the board game and realized that I have lived a lot of life. I spent the first 18 years of my life in a wonderful Christian home serving in the ministry with my family. I went to college and then graduate school. I traveled all over performing. I got married. I had kids. I worked professional jobs. And, here I am. A lot of LIFE has been lived.

I have found during each stage of my life that my ministries change. For example, right now, I have school age children. The Lord has me in a wonderful position to minister to children and their parents. However, several years ago, my mind and circumstances were far from children's playgrounds and PTO events.

Have you ever found yourself looking at someone in another stage of life and wishing you could be there? Me too. But, I am slowly learning to embrace the moment in which the Lord has placed me. The Lord has orchestrated the events of my life, and He has prepared me for this moment. And today, He has put me in positions of ministry that I would not have been equipped to handle 10 years ago.

I have some goals that have been put on the back burner. My stage of life does not lend itself to accomplishing them. While that can sometimes be discouraging, I am reminded that there is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). My time right now is precious, and I do not want to miss a thing that God has for me in the present.

So, here I am. According to my son, I am nearing retirement. It's a beautiful stage. It's where God has me. It's where I want to be.