I’ve had an eventful decade.
My 20’s are rapidly coming to a close and here’s my just-the-facts-ma’am recap of them:
age 20: Start dating Tom and get engaged to him. Begin attending BBC.
age 21: Become Mrs. Thomas Dodds, move into the house on Portland Ave. Encourage Tom to start his own business. Start a small group in our home.
age 22: Graduate from Bethel College and begin (and end) my short stint at a pro-life organization.
Become pregnant and give birth to Eliza Grace. Become a mom to a baby girl. Practice life without an income.
age 23: Practice being a wife and mom. Start to see growth in Tom’s business. Say goodbye to my best friend who moves away.
age 24: Become pregnant. Move to the house on Grouse Hollow. Give birth to Seth Thomas. Become a mom to a baby boy.
age 25: Become pregnant for a third time. Keep practicing the wife and mom thing. Say goodbye to Tom’s Grandma Ione, who passed away.
age 26: Give birth to Elianna Faith. Become a mom to a baby girl, for the second time. Start another small group in our home.
age 27: Tom informs me I’m 90% of the way to 30 yrs old. Keep on keepin’ on with the wife and mom gig. Say goodbye to my Grandpa Rodney, who passed away. Live through a massive hail storm that caused damage to our home, narrowly avoid a tornado.
age 28: Become pregnant for the fourth time. Say goodbye to that little one in the summer due to miscarriage. Become pregnant for a fifth time.
age 29: Give birth to Evangeline Joy. Become a mom to a baby girl, for the third time.
So, there are the facts of the matter. But there is a hidden story that’s missing from these facts. The story behind the story.
There is truth that is missing from these facts. And this truth is the most important part of my 20’s. It’s the true story that shows how God has kept me during this past decade. He really has kept me. He has hidden me in the shadow of His wing.
Here are a few of the ways He’s kept me, the story behind the story:
The Lord kept me through many great friendships, and, what felt like no friendships. He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
The Lord kept me through years of no income and years of plentiful income. He is my Portion forever.
The Lord kept me through times of depression and times of joy. He is my Strength and the Lifter of my Head.
The Lord kept me through days of birth and days of death. He is the Good Giver and the Wise Taker.
The Lord kept me through doubts and confidence. He is my Comfort who is over all and in all and through all.
The Lord kept me through city life and suburb life. Nothing can separate me from His Love. Where can I hide from His presence?
The Lord kept me through single life and married life. He is the God who grants our participation in His mysterious metaphors.
The Lord kept me through mothering magic and mayhem. He gently leads those who are with young.
Ultimately, the Lord has kept me His own. He has caused me to persevere in every circumstance because He is the Good Shepherd and no one can snatch me out of His hand. I persevere because of His faithfulness, not my own.
So, I have a great many hopes for my 30’s. I hope that I will be less weak. More steady. Less selfish. More selfless. Less fearful. More bold.
And at the core of my hope is Jesus. I hope in Him, because He is the One “who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy.” I put my hope in “the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jude 1:24
So long 20’s. It was a ride.
Beautifully said, Abigail! May God bless you in your 30s as He has in your 20s and may your prayers be answered!
What a lovely summary of what the Lord has done in your life!
Have a joyous 30th birthday, whenever that day may be. 🙂
God bless you and your beautiful family.
Thanks Lisa and Tracy!
30 years ago a baby girl would be induced and introduced on St. Patrick’s Day delivering her mother from 14 weeks of bed-rest. To my joy, although you were a high risk delivery, they admitted me to a green birthing room. Everything went so fast, that the Doctor almost didn’t make it. That said, your birth was a joyful, relaxed, sweet time. I held you for a few minutes and they whisked you off to the nursery. You were the most beautiful, little thing. Because we were so excited to have you with us, we went over the head of the pediatric chief resident in charge of you to the department chair to get you home. Your dad did the daily heel sticks and took them in to work to check your bili levels! One of the first perks you enjoyed having a dad with his particular skill sets! Such drama.
You completed our family, but have gone on to be a well-established, polished cornerstone of your own palace (Psalms 144:12). You have a steely resolve to mother your children in such a way that their hearts will be soft toward God’s invitation. As a helpmeet to your husband, you show wisdom and discernment. As a grown daughter you become the bridge that joins generations in Christ, all for God’s glory. Blessings on your future life’s work!
Happy birthday, gentle baby girl! I thank God for your life.
Mom
Thanks for blessing me with that Mom. Love you!
Abigail,
What a joy it is to be your friend. To see the grace God gives you each new day and season. And to then see you give Him thanks for such grace.
You have been a dear friend that has encouraged my love for God and His precepts. As I am thankful for the sweet and dear memories we share, I am eager to make new. To have our sweet chats on the phone, and the rare meet ups where we get to see one another while we chat!
Weakness. We often talk together about how weak we are. I was encouraged yesterday while reading (outside in the sunshine) 2 Corinthians 12: 8-10. Look at Paul’s example of dealing with his weakness… “Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Have a happy birthday and beginning into the 30’s! I always look forward to our next chat and get together, because I miss you dearly! I love you and thank God for you!
Lynette
Thanks for the encouragement Lynette. I’m thankful for you!
What a great post….you are such a creative and honest writer. Praise God that Jesus is our hope! Can you believe we are in our 30’s!?! I hope you had a wonderful birthday.