This afternoon I was standing in line at a very busy ice cream shop. My husband and children were with me, crowded around the counter eagerly eying what they planned to order. (Sidebar: Blue cotton candy ice cream with kit kat bar topping...really R?)
During a lull in the children's excited chatter, I overheard three young women behind me.
"I mean, I am going to TOTALLY CRY when I turn 30. Can you imagine?"
"I'll be there before you, I am 25. Twenty-five! It is crazy. I feel so old."
"Yeah, I can't imagine what saying I am 30 will be like."
In a move that no longer surprises my sweet husband, I turned and butted in their conversation without invitation.
"My 30s have actually been the best years of my life," I told them.
Their stunned faces made me feel a little guilty for my interuption.
"Really?" one of them asked.
"Yes! You know how you are spending so much time now trying to figure out who you are, want to be and what life will look like? In your thirties you generally have a handle on most of that stuff. You just get to live it."
My own family's needs snapped me back to my responsibilities. I placed our order and then looked back to my young friends.
"One more important note. The key to enjoying your thirties is making wise choices in your 20s."
As a friend of mine remarked when I recounted this story: That was the moment they knew without a doubt I was in my thirties...looking for any opportunity to lecture younger versions of myself. :-)
I walked out wondering what on Earth they must have thought. They were stylish, young and cute. I was in a pullover, yoga pants and flip flops with a ponytail and no make-up with three hyper young children. I'll bet they thought I have forgotten what it was like to be their age...or maybe that I was talking out of some sort of jealous bitterness that wished I were still their age.
They would be wrong. But for the flawless skin, I wouldn't trade anything of my life a decade ago for my life now. What a gift it is to be content!
"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for."
-Epicurus
11 comments:
Strangely as I turned 28 someone said how do you feel, typical right. I said I feel younger and happier, in a good place in my life. I am no longer in fear of 30, but embracing these last 2 years of the 20's thankful for the lessons I have learned. Praying the 30's will have many blessings and times of happiness too. Although I think the lines are showing up more many sweet friends say you look no older than 24! Huge compliment, but more than that I am thankful for these 28 years the Lord has blessed me so much and I am excited and hopeful for the future. Glad you spoke up to those girls, they needed that!
From this Texas girl I appreciate your honesty and realness, you touch my heart!
Always love reading your blog...Have added it to my sidebar....
You said very wise words to those young women. they will remember them as being wise. It doesn't matter what they thought about how you looked. You are real and your heart for Jesus shines thru your words. May God bless you for speaking to them. Blessings on your week and your sweet family.
Jennifer, you are wonderful! I can definitely say that as a 22 year old, my girlfriends and I get lost in the worries and concerns of who we are and what the future is going to look like, etc... we need wise women like you to speak truth to us, ground us and remind us that we are not hoping in vain... also to be reminded of the truth that if our hearts are focused on our sweet Father, our lives will continue to be abundantly more than we could ever hope for with Him - the joys and sadness and the unexpected.
-Amanda
(from your ODH bible study... a year ago! i can't believe it's been so long)
I just came across your blog and thoroughly enjoyed/loved this entry. I am approaching 30 and I can honestly say, I feel more confident and secure in who I am and my short-term/long-term ambitions. Even if my plans don't go as planned, I realize that it's not the end of the world :-). Five years ago, I couldn't say that. With age comes knowledge, experience and understanding. Thanks for reminding me how great my 30s look.
Take care,
Ainslee Symone
You know, I so wouldn't want to relive my 20's. I turned 40 a couple of weeks ago and when I look back, I am so thankful the Lord protected me from myself.
First...ha ha ha "in a move that no longer surprises my husband"
ha ha ha.....that was good.
Second...you are a WALKING MISSIONARY...everywhere you go, you find someone's life to touch and truth to share.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
Kelly in Michigan
This post makes me laugh inside because I would have wanted to do the same thing. I thought the same exact thing last week when I would see group after group of sorority girls come into (Shake-our nightly visit to the ice cream shop too) to order the ice cream but then gripe about how fat it was going to make them, etc. I thought back to the days of trips with my girlfriends in those very early 20s and never imagined I would be where I am today. No regrets. No changes. I love it. So glad you told them to wise up!
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Woohoo! Go JMOM! I can't say Amen enough! That is so true! At 33 I am so happy to be where I am! Loving life and living it to it's fullest!
Hugs and blessings!
I'm 24 and my friends and I have similar conversations all the time. However, my college pastor's wife once told me the same thing and in those moments when I'm totally freaking out about the things that are happening in my life right now, I remember her words and it comforts me to know that the things that I struggle with in this season will not be a part of my life forever. Perhaps they will also find comfort in those words...
Good for you. I can honestly say, for myself anyway, the forties are even better.
At 43 I LOVE where I'm at in life. I love my marriage, I love my teenagers, I love my life as a homemaker and I love the opportunities I have to serve young families who are where we were 20 years ago.
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