Today is my 34th birthday!  I am blessed to have seen another year and I pray that I am able to see many more. 

I sometimes struggle with the inevitability of getting older.  I've seen the ravages of aging around me in family members through illness & loss of acuity in certain areas.  I'll admit it scares me.  I know I should not fear aging and I should embrace the seasons that lie ahead, but as I drift further and further away from my 20's my concern for what lies ahead sometimes bothers me.  I know my feelings are irrational and aging is something I cannot fight, nor does God want me to fight it, but it's there nonetheless and I seek to allow the Lord's peace in this issue.

I also struggle with contentment from time to time... gratefully, not as much as I used to.  The Lord has brought me miles in this area, but I still have a ways to go.   As I was reflecting on my birthday this morning, I started to wish I were back home in the Washington, DC area with extended family and the familiar.  As a little background, we moved to Europe this past December... the first time I have ever been outside the United States (aside from infrequent vacations to the Carribbean).  Anyway, I started to miss Ruby Tuesday & Chocolate Tall Cake and conversing effortlessly in English and Wal-Mart and paying for everything with US dollars and seeing my extended family whenever I want to without having to worry about passports and $1000 plane tickets. 

Then scripture came to mind: Paul's words in Philippians 4:11-13 : "...In whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." 

Of course my situation is in no way as critical as Paul's was, but since even he was called to be content, I know I am to do the same.  There is security in contentment.  When I am content I am able to rest in the Lord's sovreign plan and purpose for my life and can draw from His strength.  What a loving, caring God we serve!  In Christ, Talya