On December the third, my youngest child turned 40 years old. He received the usual ‘over the hill’ items: a T-shirt, button, etc…along with the ‘old man jokes. It was all in fun and he loved it. Today I was remembering the day he was born. Two weeks earlier my doctor had told me the baby was in the wrong position and would have to be delivered by C-section…unless he happened to turn around at the last minute. Well, he turned, and was delivered the usual way…hard labor and tears…which don’t end with giving birth, trust me.
That night at the hospital, my mom came to visit. It was the first time I’d seen her really excited about anything since my dad had passed away, three months earlier. She rushed into the room laughing and told me, “He’s in there just a screaming and kicking, Betty. So I’m going to take him on home with me and you can come along when you’re feeling better.” I loved seeing her excited and laughed along with her.
Forty years sounds like a long time, but my how quickly they flew by. I remember every lost tooth, the time he turned the Christmas tree over, the scrapes, the bruises, the cowboy boots, the gifts he picked out himself…when He found Jesus. He was always on the move and loved being on top of things, literally. No wonder the time flew by as he never wasted a minute. It’s been an uphill climb for sure at times, but as he has made it over the hill, I can only pray he’ll make it smoothly down the other side.
Forty is an important number in the Bible. It rained for 40 days and forty nights after Noah built the ark. Moses led the people through the wilderness for forty years…then died at the top of a mountain where God allowed him to see the promised land…but not to enter it. How many of us have reached the top of the hill and started down the other side, hoping to reach that promised land called heaven? What lies before us on our journey?
Perhaps the time passes even more swiftly after we reach the age of forty because it’s all downhill. Downhill is not always easier but it goes much faster as we try to hold our traction…or to find some. At times we might take a tumble and feel the roadburn from the dirt and pebbles along the way. But, if we keep our eye on our guide and follow His direction we’ll reach our destination without fail.
Psalm 15: 1 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
There’s the answer for those of us making this downhill journey on the south side of forty. It, as all answers, can be found in God’s Word: Psalm 121: 1-3 I will look unto the hills from whence cometh my help 2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. 3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber.
If you’re over the hill, keep looking up…and may the grass be greener on the other side.