Forty-Nine Years Circling the Sun – A Birthday Post

A rustic horse barn which is going way outside of my normal beach and snowy mountain scenes.
Horse Barn

I am sitting here scratching my balding head wondering, “how can I be 49 years old”? Today’s musing centers on this topic of “Forty-Nine Years Circling the Sun – A Birthday Post”.

The years are going by much faster now as I am reminded of something my brother-in-law told me when I was 16 years old. I do not recall his exact words however, in essence, he said ‘these are the best years of your life’. He was right! He also said, ‘someday you will realize the same’. Oh to be celebrating my 16th birthday again where my only worry was my poor grades in English class.

The older I get, the more I remember (funny, eh?). For instance, yesterday was my 49th birthday and I spent most of the day in reflection. As we get older we all naturally look back over our lives and wonder the “what ifs”. For me, it is “What if those kids in my Junior High classes had not been a bully to me?” And, “What if the traumatic and mentally draining event which occurred in my tweens had not happened?” Perhaps my depression would not have manifested so greatly. Yes, there are many unanswered questions however one thing I do know is that my God is bigger than all of those memories and so much more.

Paul’s Thorn

For if I want to boast, I will not be a fool, because I will be telling the truth. But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me, especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Corinthians 12:6-10

In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul speaks of a “thorn” in his flesh placed there by a “messenger of Satan”. What exactly was this “thorn”? The bible can be taken literally, however, I believe in this particular instance, God must have wanted some ambiguity so we could apply any difficulty we experience daily in our Walk with Christ. Even after praying and asking God to remove this “thorn”, God’s response was “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Paul gladly accepted his lot in life and actually boasted about his weakness.

Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Much the same as it in today’s culture, his boasting of this “thorn” was most likely viewed as irregular by those in the first century.

So with prayer, medication, and my digital art, God’s grace is still sufficient.

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In closing, I honestly have no idea where the inspiration for today’s drawing came from. As a young child, I have bits and pieces of memories of my grandfather and grandmother and their farm in Ohio. Short of that, I have very few barn memories. So if you made it this far, please comment below and share on your social media sites. If you would like to help me with my battle against depression, check out my online stores. A vast majority of proceeds are donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

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