“I’m sorry; you will need to go ahead and get a burial plot for your daughter.” Those were the words spoken to the father of a four-month-old baby girl. She had been born with a rare aorta deformity. Her aorta had grown normally, then split in half, grown around her esophagus and back together, making a complete ring. As her esophagus had grown, the ring tightened around it causing her difficulty swallowing and breathing.

Surgery was the only option. This type of surgery wasn’t common in 1966 and had never been done on an infant this young. Despite the odds, the operation was scheduled and photographers were present to document the event for medical books and journals. After the delicate procedure was performed, the doctor’s outlook was grim. “She will not live.” The father and his wife took their three-year-old son into the baby’s hospital room so he could say goodbye to his little sister.

Proud to be Fifty

Three weeks ago on July 17, 2016, this baby girl turned 50 years old! Fifty is a major milestone in birthdays. Turning 50 often results in surprise parties, a midlife crisis and being categorized as “over the hill”. I know many women that dread the big five-o and others who won’t tell their age. I can honestly say, I’m proud to be fifty! Did my daddy buy my burial plot? Absolutely not! My parents prayed and trusted God. They had a praying church family, praying extended family and praying friends. Despite the fact many people were praying, there was no guarantee I would live. They were aware that sometimes God’s way of healing someone is to bring them home to Him. But God, the great physician, had plans for me.

50 years! Wow! Half of 100! Like most people, in fifty years I have dealt with difficult situations. Some I have experienced firsthand and others through a friend or loved one. Cancer, divorce, bankruptcy, job loss, miscarriage, car wrecks, surgery, and death are just a few of the occurrences that have reared their ugly head in my life. But God used those to make me stronger. And oh, the joys he has included in my fifty years, joys both big and small. For example, giving birth to a child, playing in the rain, watching a sunset, a dog’s love, a mother’s hug, laughing til it hurts, are just a few of the blessings I have seen.

Count Your Blessings

I have scars, a few gray hairs and wrinkles, but I am happy to reach 50! I wake up each morning and smile, knowing I am one of God’s miracles.

Time will march on; you can not stop it. But you can slow down and take notice of all God has blessed you with. Count your blessings, name them one by one.

Donna