From my personal perspective, it’s been a little rough these past couple of days. While I have been blessed more abundantly than I could have ever imagined for myself, I find myself also swept up in what it means to be human: struggling with mortality. Not so much my own, but as time marches on, the mortality of those around me; the moving on to heavenly addresses of so many people I know and love.

Losing a parent so young skews a person’s view on what is a normal lifespan. I struggled with that for years, afraid that my own mother would be called home at any moment, especially once she turned seventy. Instead, we were blessed to have her with us until she was ninety-one years old. I miss how she would look forward to my birthday, having picked out a blouse from Kohl’s that was “just my style.” Her yearly birthday presents made up my wardrobe for many years.

Today I am five years older than when my father died—I was only two months shy of my fifteenth birthday at the time. I am now also the same age of my brother, when he died a little over a year ago, joining two of my older sisters. All gone too soon. This is the second year I won’t be getting Eddie’s birthday phone call.

Sadly, instead of living with hope for tomorrow, I often found myself “waiting for the other shoe to drop.” Who would leave me next? And missing terribly the ones that already have…

If I’m not careful, I can stay too long in those thoughts. In the 23rd Psalm, we read, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,” (KJV). Notice it doesn’t say we camp there—we walk through it. I need to give myself grace when reflecting on my loved ones and how much I miss them, but I am not meant to stay there too long, and they would not want me to.

Psalm 139:16 (NIV) says,

Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.

This is true for each one of us and those words bring comfort. Tomorrow is not promised, but we are given today. It’s up to us to make the most of it by being intentional in loving God and loving others. As for the rest, God is in charge and we can rest in His plan for our lives. Living one day at a time truly brings freedom. We can live each day with great intention and with hope for tomorrow, not fear, for while we struggle during our time in this broken world, we already have victory in our Lord Jesus Christ.

And when we start walking through that valley of the shadow of death—we shall not linger—”for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (KJV) and our Lord will bring us through and out the other side. One way He does that is by reminding us of His deep love for us. Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV) tells us,

The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”

I love this verse because it shows us the great affection God has for us. And He often shows His love through His people. I didn’t get my brother Eddie’s phone call today, and God knew that would make my heart ache. So He asked a brother in Christ to reach out with a special birthday message. Thank you, Shaun. He knew I would long to hear my mother’s yearly birthday phone call. So He asked my lovely sister-in-law to do it. Thank you, Jane. He knew I would also miss my sister Lynn’s birthday text, so He asked one of my childhood friends to do it. Thank you, Peanut.

As I look back on my life, there are certainly some hard times I have walked through, but I am truly amazed at all of the wonderful experiences God has blessed me with and all of the wonderful people that have touched my life. I am honored and humbled by them, and I know they helped shape the person I have become.

My husband Phil has been worrying about how to make my birthday special. I told him there is no need for him to do anything, because he makes me feel special every day, and that is so true. Our son Josh and his wife Naomi have been reaching out with birthday surprises, and I have received many texts and messages from dear family and friends—all contributing to making my day special. How precious it is to know someone has thought about me today and took the time to reach out with a birthday greeting! I treasure each one!

I met someone randomly at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs last month and we started talking about writing. He asked me if I had hypergraphia (a condition characterized by an overwhelming desire to write) and I reflected a moment, then nodded and said yes. He went on to say it is an affliction I share with Stephen King. My brother Eddie (my biggest fan) always liked to say I would become as famous as Stephen King—so that really made me smile. Enough for now, dear reader. I shall intentionally put my hypergraphia aside and go enjoy my birthday with my handsome husband.

And remember—if you find yourself in the valley—don’t linger too long. The One who loves you beyond measure is there with you and will see you through. May your day be blessed!