I thought to share my Birthday testimony as I celebrated turning 50 years old, last year 2014. Someone spoke with me earlier today, needing a boost as they are about to celebrate a milestone birthday. They felt depressed about getting old. It made me see that many people may not realize how aging is a beautiful thing. Who prefers the alternative!? Certainly, I hope not you. If one is not getting older you are dead. My People: Live life, age gracefully, enjoy every minute of it. If you're celebrating a birthday and you feel downhearted about getting older, perk yourself up!!! Life gets better with age. Here's my tale at 50. The joy of reaching that milestone excites me to this day and keeps me going. Even as the years will come and pass. Please enjoy. If today is your birthday, Happy Blessed Birthday to you!
I WELCOME 50
50! Welcome
to my world, Fifty! I hope you are ready for me as I am ready for you. 50, I
plan to give you a run for your money. I hope you are ready for a fierce
partner. Together lets be fierce. I plan to fiercely live and love. Fiercely
worship God. Fiercely serve Jesus Christ. Fifty(ies) I do not plan to sit you
out. I intend to dance every single day of my life. Mentally, physically,
emotionally, spiritually—Oh what a dance it will be.
In the last
hours of yesterday, I danced half a century away. I danced into being the
beginning of the second half century of my life. Truth be told, for a long
while I did not think I would live to be 50 years old. With a grateful heart I
say, "Thank you Lord for keeping all your promises to me.” I’d been dancing all
night; beginning repeatedly with, “I’m Amazed (Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir). Concluding
with one of my favorites, and my theme song for 50, “I Hope You Dance” (LeAnn
Womack). I’ve played this song over 20 times this night. Woohoo!!!
Several
years ago, I made my peace with shoulda coulda woulda—all my missed moments. Firmly
putting all the uglies of life to rest. I realized no amount of hell or hell bent
hearts would make me lose my wonder. I embrace passion, love, dance, joy, song.
I’ve been given a chance to sit it or dance. Guess what(!) I choose to dance. I
agree with LeAnn W. May you never take one single breath for granted. When you
stand by the ocean, please do feel small. I guarantee you when one door closes God
will open another. Just know that when you give faith a fighting chance, God
leaves you breathless! Dream big for yourself. The path of least resistance wasn’t
intended to make you settle. Take those chances and translate them into
captures! This thing called loving might not always turn out happy. But never,
never, not take the chance to experience love. Whenever you find your heart’s
been broken, no matter how many times … Ditch the bitterness. Love comes around
many times…God is love! My friend, don’t you dare sell out—Always reconsider.
And because Heaven is above and Jesus Christ resides there … Always keep your
gaze up! That’s where help is.
My friend,
I’ve been given the chance to sit it out or dance. You know what I’m choosing!
I chose to dance. That’s how I began ushering in my 50th birthday
today—dancing.
The
Praise-a-Thon of my final Countdown to 50 climaxed with the song “I Get On My
Knees” (Nicole Mullen). I prepared for prayer time by singing the hymn “My
Jesus I Love Thee.” Hymns are my thing, you know. The hymns transport me into a
place of deeper worship. Immediately, I fell, face down on my knees before the
Creator of heaven and earth. In thanksgiving, I honored Jesus Christ for the
gift of this milestone birthday. I worshipped God for who He is. I thanked the
Lord for the gift of life—every aspect of my life. I am blessed that I could welcome
my 50th birthday, alone, on my knees. When midnight rolled in I was laying
prostrate before the King of Kings, welcoming 50 into my world!
I do not
intend to sit it out, not once. Life is too precious. You should embrace your
life, too. Join me friends, (and foes too if there be any out there) and make
your life a celebration. Celebrate the beautiful you that Jesus Christ has made
out of nothing. You are here; right here, right now. And you are a child of
God! It does not get any better than that. Thank you to my wonderful circle of
friends, you know yourselves. You make this journey fun. Thanks to family,
loved ones, acquaintances, children of God, you make life a pleasure. Thanks to
those who encourage and inspire me to continue the work I try to do, you make
HortenseInspiration happen. Thanks to the strangers and the passerbys, you too
have a place. We are all God’s children—we need one another more than we
recognize.
In closing,
let’s each be one another’s keeper. Live large, and it has nothing to do with
means or much. It has to do with heart—live with a large heart! Love much. Forgive
more. Laugh often. Pray always. Don’t you dare sit it out. Go Dance!
Blessings
galore,
Ms. Hortense
Duarma Grimes
June 15,
2014
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