“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;
I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
Ezekiel 36:26 (CSB)
Dearest Reader,
It’s Valentine’s Day; we are on the back side of winter, birds are gathering near our feeder and singing their song of hope, hope that spring is near!
I was almost a Valentine; my birthday falls on Friday, two days beyond it.
I will be celebrating fifty-eight years of life. Thoughts of this milestone birthday have been on my heart since the day I turned fifty. At fifty, I felt as if I was on top of the world and I just could not see myself here, on the backside of fifty.
Looking Back
When you realize, you are barreling towards sixty; you begin to count the days, until that day. Seven-hundred thirty-two days and mere hours. Words, such as old, over the hill, not much time left, and senior discounts are daunting. And then there is, sixty is the new fifty, forty is the new thirty, and so it goes.
Thirty, twenty, ten, eight years ago, I was a different person. Wrinkles mattered, a number on a scale, measuring up against other women, feeling loved, accepted, and, of course, pretty shoes.
Today, those things do not mean as much, though some of them are still a struggle, I expect they always will be. Can you relate?
This morning, I looked into the mirror, choosing to see life in the crow’s feet around my eyes, the wrinkles on my forehead. Intentionally deciding to place my identity in Christ.
Can I tell you how much I wish I had done that long ago?
In Philippians 3:7, Paul penned these words to the saints in Christ Jesus located in Philippi:
“But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.” (CSB)
I placed my identity in everything else. I am confident, if I had not, the amount of self-induced heartache I suffered, may have been less. I was searching for gain, searching for affirmation, in the wrong places, wrong things, and with the wrong people.
Precious Daughters and Sisters, I love you, I love sharing life with you, and pouring into you. If I could impart one piece of wisdom to you, it would be this: Place your identity in Jesus. Let your gain come from a life well lived in relationship with God, deeply rooted in his Word. Plant and harvest your gain in the Kingdom, not yourself. Your self-worth in Him will grow beyond any measure you can ever imagine. And know, know beyond anything, you are never too far gone.
I’m not just pulling feel-good words out of thin air; I have lived this. My heart’s longing is for you to learn long before I ever did. The enemy loves to keep us mired in our regrets. He likes to convince us we are of no use, unseen, and unloved.
You are not.
How do I know this? Because I am the long-lost rebel, who turned away from a good, good Father. The Bible Study girl, who once packed up her Bible, and all things Bible Study. Wasting time, years lost to me.
I did not get a do-over. In returning, however, I was given a new heart, washed with God’s mercy and grace.
Today, I humbly stand before you, redeemed, restored, a daughter of The King.
“I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for my anger will have turned from him. I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like Lebanon. His new branches will spread, and his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance, like the forest of Lebanon.”
Hosea 14:4-6 (CSB)
Gifts of Grace
In case you missed these posts:
Desperate Faith: How Far Am I Willing To Go
Hope In The Hopeless: From Wheelchair To A Walk In The Snow
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I’m blessed to serve you in this place, to share with you the Gifts of Grace as I journey through the wilderness. I picture you across the table, hands wrapped tightly around your cup, sharing life, and laughter, and tears. As I share with you, my daily struggles, I long to hear what yours may be. You can do that by commenting below or reaching out to me here.

Happy Valentines Day. Thank you for inspiring me to look past wrinkles and aging toward gratitude and God. I am his beloved daughter too.
And to you, Mary! May we all live from that place today!
XO
Happy Valentine’s Day. I am grateful for every wrinkle, every scar, and signs of aging. My heart is full of gratitude for the days He has given me and the ones yet to come. I join you in being grateful to be His!
Beautiful, Joanne!
XO
Loved this. I love what my 100 and half year old Dad says, “Age is just a number you see from the outside.” You to indeed live well. Please keep it up as you inspire so many!
Thank you, Karen! Happy Valentine’s Day!
XO
Oh Happy Valentine’s Day and Happy Birthday, my friend! I love this! I am just a bit younger than you and am spotting the lines and reminding myself that they are laugh lines and a reflection of a life lived in joy and love… most days I grab hold of that and it’s enough… because I remember that I am enough and more than that –that I am ridiculously loved! (There are those other days too, though… but thankfully they happen less often!) Loved this post!
You, too Beautiful Friend. I love watching your Mimi life on Instagram! Lil Miss is a cutie!
XO
Are you trying to tell me that you are getting older? You could have fooled me. You still look like the beautiful girl I married over 30 years ago. I guess my vision may have slipped but my memory is still spot on. SM
My Sweet Man, that’s the best Valentine of the day! Love you to the moon and back, and then some more!
XO
Oh I am having a hard time commenting here, through the tears. To see you start your post with the same verse that God has been giving to me as I walk thru this season of life was enough to stir my heart. But then your words are filled with such a beautiful glimpse of God’s perspective on aging with Him, and there was your dear SM commenting with his own thoughts for you. What a sweet encouragement that my heart needed tonight. We are blessed with such a love from our Lord!
Wow, Bettie, I love how God weaves out stories together with the same Scriptures!
XO
Tammy
Happy Valentines Day and Happy Early Birthday! Thank You for these words.
Thank you, Tara!
XO
oh how I relate. This past weekend at IF I knew God was changing me. Down deep. Exactly what you have written is my deepest hearts desire. To die to myself and find my identity in Christ. It’s happening. You are a beautiful person both inside and out. I am thankful that our paths have crossed. No coincidences!! Many blessings to you!!!! And happiest of birthdays to you!!!
Telisa, I feel so blessed God brought us together! Thank you for your kind words and the beautiful shirt! I cannot wear into our Armor of God Bible study Monday evening!
XO
Happy Birthday! Those two verses are what I used to pray for people, they have to be receptive to a change of heart. I try to pray now for them to experience His love in some way, and that will change them. I am doing some posts on identity, I like the line, place your identity in Christ, it is hidden there anyway as a believer. Oh, this is me, not a recent photo but I look pretty much the same, I’m 56, I have a terrible blanket wrinkle still this afternoon from sleeping so well, people ask me all the time about age, but it’s the Lord who renews our youth.
Rebecca, I’m thrilled you stopped by!
XO
Happy birthday! My dad’s birthday is on Valentines as well as my parents’ anniversary.
Thank you, Melissa!
XO
Our experiences are never a waste, even though they may seem like a wasteland to us! Don’t let the devil get you down, Sister!
Great advice here. AGE IS SOMETHING WE CAN NOT CONTROL. The only thing i try to do is stay fit. This is so important for us.
I call this survival. Will take care of your aging before anything. Just give it a try. Great one Tammy as usual.
Love all,
Mom