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Friday, August 1, 2014

Two new beginnings, actually: one for Five Minute Friday (which, starting next week, will be hosted by Kate Motaung), and one for me. I'll get back to that in a moment.

Since this is Lisa-Jo Baker's last week of hosting Five Minute Friday, I hope you'll consider joining us today. Click the FMF link at the top of this post to link up and to see the rules.

To give you the short version, Five Minute Friday works like this: Write for five minutes, then click Publish. No major editing allowed. It's a little frightening, but it's fun to be freed of the perfectionism, too. Link up at Lisa-Jo's blog, then visit the person who linked up just ahead of you. If you don't blog, you can still participate by writing in the comments at Lisa-Jo's blog.

Today is, as my husband so thoughtfully worded it, the first day of my sixth decade. I went to bed last night discouraged as I thought about the last decade.

My fifth decade wasn't all that great. I had some trials, mostly medical. I was diagnosed with breast cancer (stage 0) and my depression worsened significantly.

But that decade was also a time of blessings for me. I beat that cancer and have been without it for three years now. I started getting help--first through counseling, then through doctors--for my depression. It's finally beginning to seem under control.

It's been a time of spiritual growth, too. Through these trials, Christ has drawn me closer to Him. I spend more time in prayer and praise. I participate in a Bible study now. I have been blessed to pray for others in need and to give support to women going through similar trials. In that sense, it's been a wonderful, amazing decade.

Only the Lord knows what this new decade holds. I know, however, that I can trust in Him to redeem whatever trials He chooses to allow in my life. And so I woke up this morning encouraged by that knowledge.

Congratulations on reaching a new milestone and happy birthday, Melissa! It sounds like your last decade was rough--but how wonderful that you can see God's hand guiding you through the tough times. May he continue to guide you and comfort you through your new decade of life!