Forty

I recently celebrated my 40th birthday. God inspired me to write a thank you letter to people who have influenced my growth one way or another. After I wrote the letter, I asked my husband to read it, he did. He asked me what the purpose of my letter was. “Why is forty so significant to you?” he questioned.

After listening to him for a bit, I grabbed my Bible and looked up forty. I found several passages about forty. “This will be a very long letter,” I commented.

“Why are you looking up forty in the Bible?” He exclaimed. “I wanted to know why you’re writing this letter. How did these people specifically affect you in a way that would cause you to write them?”

“Ohhh…I’m sorry. I thought you wanted me to explain the significance of the numb forty in the Bible,” I answered.

I proceeded with the letter without the Bible. However, the number forty intrigued me. There were a lot of mentions in the Bible about forty: the Lord caused it to rain for forty days and forty nights; the Israelites’ rebellious nature caused them to wander in the desert for forty years; After Jesus’ baptism, He fasted for forty days and forty nights in the desert (Matt. 4:2); After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples for a period of forty days (Acts 1:3). Thus, the number forty is important in biblical history.

Turning forty is also important to me. It inspired me to think of all the people who has influenced me and steered me in this direction. The saying, “It takes a village to raise a child” rings true in my life. There were so many people who helped my mother raise me. Without them I wouldn’t be alive. In my adult life, there are a lot of people who taught me the lessons of life-how to love my children; how to respect my husband, how to stay close to God, etc.

Turning forty caused me to reflect on the necessity of relationships: how we affect one another-positive or negative. It gives me a new perspective on life. I am most grateful for God’s grace. Daily, I ponder on His love and mercy. I am in awe of His goodness. Like the Israelites, I have a better understanding of what being obedient means.

Lord, I thank You so much for this reflection. I know that I need others' help in my walk with Jesus. I pray that I will not turn to left nor the right. Please, help me to never take others for granted. Help me to show my gratitudes daily. In Jesus’ precious Name I pray, Amen.