Today’s my birthday, and I have been pondering how I would like my life to feel in the coming year. Inevitably my thoughts turn to desire. What do I want to know, become, give, and receive?
My Birthday & Thoughts on Grace
In past years I was interested in ideas about aging gracefully.
Putting it into practice was exhausting.
Today, the gift of aging WITH GRACE charms me more.
It’s an important shift from performance to awareness. Must aging be another performance or journey where I need to make sure I’m getting it right or modeling it well?
Or can aging be an invitation to notice Grace sustaining me and you as all things pass away?
Grace covering, befriending, flowing, growing, renewing, strengthening, comforting, lifting, and feeding me as I mature and physically slow down.
Aging gracefully implies there’s a way to get it wrong. Are ungraceful journeys less sacred? Are chapters with stumbling and doubt “ungraceful aging fails?”
Because I’m all for dropping out of that competition.
Times are hard, and new cares spring up all the time. GRACE remains.
Something beyond me, within me, swirling around and holding me as the years pass. Maybe you name it Emmanuel. A radiant gaze. Or maybe you know it as a benevolent universe.
For me, Grace feels like unconditional favor from “Father” or “Mama.”
Is such an idea of aging with Grace simply a coping mechanism to endure loss? I don’t think so.
In times of deep need or suffering, it is indeed moving despite my wavering: faith, willpower, obedience, and coping skills.
Grace moves with me in messy times, at the end of my personal resources, when my vision is blurred.
Grace comes as wind or peace or miracle, turning the ground holy. New eyes are given. What was lost is found. A way through the wilderness appears.
Aging with Grace means there is no winning or losing; no transaction at all.
No self-consciousness about where I land on the spectrum of gracefulness any given day.
Aging with Grace is an invitation to become aware we need never be lonely again.
What a blessing when the truth of those words penetrate the soul.
Thank you for visiting each day and reading these thoughts that arise.
If you are struggling with issues related to aging, I honor your journey and pray fresh mercies will arrive at your door.
We really are in all of this together.
Birthday Treats I’m Sharing With the Class
Macarons!
I love them and make them occasionally, but they are an intermediate baking activity!
Here’s an awesome tutorial:
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
Thanks for shopping RIGHT HERE to keep decor inspiration flowing on Hello Lovely!
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Happy Birthday, Michele!
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Merci! 🙂
blessed and happy birthday to you!
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Thanks so much! 🙂
Happy Birthday my friend!! You are beautiful at every age! ❤️
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Thank you, beautiful woman of God – your work and spirit continue to inspire and uplift my heart. 🙂
Happy birthday, Michelle! I am so grateful to you for your daily design inspiration and words of wisdom.
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Thanks, Kyle. It’s a blessing to have you here. 🙂
Happy Birthday, Michele!
Thank You for giving us the gift of Hello Lovely.
I look forward to it every morning.
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I’m so grateful to have you here, Betty. Peace to you, friend.
Have a wonderful birthday Michele!
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Thanks for the wishes, friend. 🙂
HAPPY BIRTHDAY sweet girl!
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Thank you! It’s awesome being called a girl at this age! Hahahaha. 🙂 Peace to you.
Happy Lovely Birthday to beautiful you!!
Jeannie
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Thanks so much, lovely one. Peace to you.
Thank you for sharing this amazing post! Wishing you a meaningful birthday full of love and grace
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Thanks so much for reading and the support!
Aging with Grace! Well said, Michele. I couldn’t agree with you more. Your post made my day. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
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I’m so happy to have you here – thanks for the wishes, friend. 🙂
Grace is God’s Riches At Christ”s Expense
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Peace to you.
Every day is a gift when I open your blog! Hope you had a wonderful birthday!
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Awwwww, and your comment is the sweetest gift to me. Thanks for being here, Mary. 🙂
May your deepest wishes come true…happy birthday!
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Thanks so much! 🙂
Happy birthday, Michele!
Thank you for your gifts of loveliness, grace, and beauty. Your blog always makes my day!
Remember: “Goodness and mercy will FOLLOW ME all the days of my life” (Psalm 23)
You do not need to pursue grace. It will find you.
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Thank you! 🙂
Happy happy bday friend! Hope you’ve had a day full of all the people & things that bless you!! You bless us every day🤗
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Thanks so much, Amy. My day was quiet and peaceful and just what I needed to feel loved. xox
Happy Birthday Michelle! Thank you for sharing much beauty! I like what you wrote about growing older with grace! Dear Michelle, may GOD bless your year and may you feel HIS presence as well!
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Thanks, Nancy. Something in that adjustment of my thinking about the blessing of grace helps. I’m being joined by grace as I age and am not bound to do it peerlessly, perfectly, or even gracefully. Thank you for the blessing and wishes. 🙂
Happy, happy birthday beautiful friend! Love your thoughts on grace and aging. We are all aging if we are still here! Lovely thoughts on that. XOXO Lauralee
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You’re so right! Even babies are aging, and the word need not be a curse word. 🙂 Thanks for being here.