Bonus Years

January 22, 2009 in Prayer/Faith with 4 Comments

I was telling Andrea yesterday that when I was younger, I honestly did not plan on living past 20.  Every action I took and every decision I made was on the thought that I was going to be dead by 20.  I wasn’t planning on offing myself when the day came, I just assumed that my lifestyle didn’t really have room for more than two decades.  I knew that how I was living was going to kill me, and I was ok with that.

I told her that every year past 20, I considered ‘bonus years’.  Years that I had never planned on living.  Today is my 6th bonus year. This year is a little different for me, because now, I am not only living, I have a life!  I have a wife that loves me, I have a family that cares, and I have friends that seem to give a crap.

Days like today, I do one of two things.  I look back on my life, and think about how I haven’t really done that much with my life. (Ultimately I realize I am only XX years old, and that my life has been SO full by now that most of the stories from my life I tell, people don’t believe.)  Or, I sit down and really praise God.  I mean, REALLY praise him.  I was not supposed to live past 20.  It wasn’t in my game book.  I have died.  My heart has stopped.  More than once.  I have been to the slums, lived there, been at rock bottom.

Jesus Christ came down, picked me up and pulled me out.  Jesus Christ was my intervention.  Because of Him, I am living my 6th bonus year.  Because of Him I sit here this morning, not just worried about being 26 but I actually think about when I turn 30 and 40 and 50.  I think about my children, and my children’s children.  I think about spending the rest of my life with a beautiful woman.  I think about living, I think about serving, I think about HIM.

Today, on my 26th.  I am not going to get down on myself because I haven’t done this, or I haven’t done that.  Today, on my 26th, I am going to move forward to live a life of serving Jesus Christ with my whole being.  Today I am going to celebrate the life that He has given me, (and it is a BEAUTIFUL life.) Today, I am going to look forward to serve.  Today, I am going to appreciate every heartbeat, every breath, and every thing, good or bad that happens.  This life is in ‘bonus years’.  I am not going to sit around and waste any more of them.

Thank you Jesus for saving me.  Thank you. Thank you.  Thank you! I love you God!

Amen!

  • http://jillvictoria.site90.com JillVictoria

    Happy Birthday! Glad you have had six bonus years so far.

    I feel the same way you do, but for a different reason. I didn't have the thought I wouldn't live past a certain age, just that I would never come as far as I have in life. I didn't think I'd be happy, in love or getting married. It just seemed like a “meant for someone else but not for me” thing. I consider everything I do in life a bonus because it's one more thing I never thought I'd do.

  • Hetty4Christ

    And He saved you for a reason-He saw how you really felt in your heart DEEP inside…and He wanted to roll out those “second chances” and for that-you never feel guilty…you feel His mercy and give Him immense love and thanks for having that love and mercy-and plans! You are still, very young. That is the age I accepted Jesus…and my life was still going wild on how to handle it all too. And growing in faith…remain honorable, knowing HE DOES HAVE PLANS-they WILL UNFOLD!! In His timing-for His glory…til then-enjoy the air He has given you to breathe with the life He restored in you-your beautiful wife…and faith iin Him…ask for happiness thru Him by reminding you that He loves you and forgave you, forgives you, and will forgive you…this life is amazing with Him-keep your chin up to Him! AND HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY-through Jesus' love and blessings!
    http://www.twitter.com/hetty4christ

  • http://jillvictoria.site90.com JillVictoria

    Happy Birthday! Glad you have had six bonus years so far.

    I feel the same way you do, but for a different reason. I didn't have the thought I wouldn't live past a certain age, just that I would never come as far as I have in life. I didn't think I'd be happy, in love or getting married. It just seemed like a “meant for someone else but not for me” thing. I consider everything I do in life a bonus because it's one more thing I never thought I'd do.

  • Hetty4Christ

    And He saved you for a reason-He saw how you really felt in your heart DEEP inside…and He wanted to roll out those “second chances” and for that-you never feel guilty…you feel His mercy and give Him immense love and thanks for having that love and mercy-and plans! You are still, very young. That is the age I accepted Jesus…and my life was still going wild on how to handle it all too. And growing in faith…remain honorable, knowing HE DOES HAVE PLANS-they WILL UNFOLD!! In His timing-for His glory…til then-enjoy the air He has given you to breathe with the life He restored in you-your beautiful wife…and faith iin Him…ask for happiness thru Him by reminding you that He loves you and forgave you, forgives you, and will forgive you…this life is amazing with Him-keep your chin up to Him! AND HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY-through Jesus' love and blessings!
    http://www.twitter.com/hetty4christ