As I sat at Longhorn Steakhouse and enjoyed my 12 Oz New York strip with my family and my son's girlfriend, I realized, it's been a great 48 years. I realized, "You know what, Jason? You've got it pretty good. Don't ever forget it.'
And that's a fact. 48 years of learning from others, watching others, imitating others, and discovering more about God's hand in my life everyday, I've had a great life thus far. Don't get me wrong; I've got all the old man aches and pains already starting, probably earlier than usual for some, but hey - my Nannie always said "Everything turns out best, for those that make the best of how everything turns out."
I came across this fun photo that a good buddy of mine snapped just before we worked security as the SROs for a high school prom. The gray in my beard made me chuckle...and then it hit me - not only am I celebrating my 48th birthday...but this is technically the first day of my 49th year. This has been an interesting turn of events as this time in my life has marked all sorts of fresh starts. I started seminary on-line, and intend to obtain my Masters in Divinity in due time. I started a new stint as SRO for a new middle school (new to me), and I daresay they have welcomed me into their fold with flying colors.
I am officially about to be a proud parent of an Army serviceman deployed overseas to represent his country; that is a fresh start in a way, because there will be a temporary void in our house with our grown young man thousands of miles away. I'd be lying if I said a lump didn't pop up in my throat as I typed that last part.
Yep, this is going to be an interesting year coming up. The middle-aged man desperately attempting to flex may not be as good as he once was...but "I'm as good once, as I ever was."
Here's looking at you as I get one step closer to half a century. Let's just hope that doesn't mean already putting my pinky toe in the grave, just yet, shall we?
God bless, and thank you for everyone I ever learned anything from, and those of you that learned a thing or two from me along the way.
-JEF
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