I find that in this season of my life, birthdays bring around much thought and reflection. I can’t wait to see what it will be like in my eighties and beyond. Oh, I will be here…made that declaration in grade school when they made us watch those Disney movies. The one where the cricket sings, “I’m no fool…no siree, I’m gonna live to be 103…,” yep, made my mind up in the first grade…. And I’ve been holding fast to that since then!

There are probably lots of things that I still hold on to that a grown person should probably let go, but hey—that’s what normal people do. I never thought I was all that normal and anyway, “I’m a superhero!” The doctors always said that whenever they saw me after my fall from the second-floor window, so I have held on to that too!

I have always operated in secret. Few know my true abilities.  My children and wife have only seen glimpses. My brother still challenges me (less now than the years before) to do certain movements which if I forgot, could destroy and injure so many. Its our running gag since our youth. Every few years he tries to get me to slip up…but, of course there is always tomorrow.

Truthfully, I know that my life has been filled with purpose from the day I was born. In fact, that is the singular thought that has kept me pressing forward everyday of my life. It takes being a bit super to make it through life. Perhaps if we all recognized our super-abilities sooner….

Anyway, I thought that I would take a moment and share what is on my heart on the eve of my birthday.

My Children

I never really understood that weight of my parents acknowledging our successes—even later in life. But now their words are like a laurel leaf crown. And I suspect, it takes time before my children will really understand the weight of our words. That we are not just saying things to make them feel good—but we sincerely applaud their success, no matter how small.

We have recognized that every opportunity to encourage our children, even as adults is an opportunity to cancel the negative inputs from the World. We have labored to set real expectations of what the World provides—and the value that family can have to restore you with a simple embrace…and a kind word.

It has always been difficult to see them struggle…but that’s just a part of life. We all have struggles—and the proof of who and what we become is our ability to deal with the struggles. To shield them from the reality of the World would have crippled them. Sometimes I wonder, did we love them too much? Did we protect them too much? But the truth of that is to see them rise after every stumble—even when they don’t do it our way…they keep moving.

I have seen my daughters work together to support one another in so many different ways that is not always common among siblings. That gives me so much joy…that they have “love for one another.” Often siblings get stuck in familial roles that limit their value to one another. But to hear their concerns for one another; or to see them celebrate one another—even when it means to sacrifice…would make any parent proud.

My Parents

In this season of living life without the daily opportunity to hear them speak to you is still quite strange. But to say that I didn’t hear them speaking to me on a daily basis would not be the truth. While there are often many specific words, there are images that dance in my mind that resonate in my heart space and entire conversations are breathed out in one moment.

Oh, how I would cherish the opportunity to have even a five-minute conversation with “momma” or “daddy.” It wouldn’t have to be anything special—just to hear their voice. Our relationship over the years was mostly through telephone calls as a result of the distance between us. So often, we didn’t have the luxury of having regular face-face conversations so their “voices” became especially powerful for us. To hear the excitement, frustration and even the pains of living was not always easy, but it was my connection to their lives—and theirs to ours. Oh, how I miss them both…! Oh, so much love; so little time…on this side!

My Siblings

This seems like a good place to talk about my siblings. I am fortunate that they are still here with me. Although they may not look like it, they helped a great deal to shape the person that I have become. If you like me—then, you probably would like them too! There is much that we have in common, although I ended up with the bulk of the good looks!

Every one of them is like a prized book on my shelf. Each one tells a story of my life that reflects so much of my life that is shielded from public view. The stories they could tell of my journey would be interesting to hear…if they could remember them all. We shared many joys and sorrows together. And sadly, we also shared many alone as we have grown up and moved away from one another.

But perhaps our greatest power was that of being faithful over our parent’s desires. Working together to accomplish much that we know made our parent’s proud. We were amazed that so many people in hospitals and nursing homes were surprised in how we were able to work together to accomplish our parent’s wishes…in contrast to the many instances of others tearing one another apart. In that, we can only thank our parents—and our God.

My Assignment

If anyone believes that they can step into the Work of the Lord without any personal cost, they are clearly mistaken. And yet, even knowing the cost, I have little doubt that I would do things differently. The greatest challenge was to maintain some sense of stability for our children as they each matriculated through high-school and college, and I am sure that often we fell short. If there was any way to have done things differently, this is perhaps the area that I would have changed most of all.

It is crazy to see that the Lord has seen fit to have us labor in His vineyard for these many years. It really has been as much about the people of God as it is anything else. And while I realize that my life would be so much easier if I had just stayed at my corporate job—I know that the “fruit that remains” would be so much less.

There are very few things in my life that I have been able to commit to with such an unwavering spirit as I have been able to do with the Work of the Lord. The work will never be complete in my life-time, but I am thankful that I am able to wade out into the depths of the shallow end of the pool and splash around a bit.

The books that we have written, the workshops completed, the prayer calls hosted and so much more has all been beyond the extent of my thoughts when we began this journey. We simply say thanks to the Lord for allowing us to do what we have done so far—and we continue to be excited for that which will come next!

My Wife

Of course, saving the best for last, as I speak of my wife as my true helpmate. We have been through much—mostly good things…and we have done it together. From the days of riding to my college football games on the team bus to now riding to conferences to conduct a workshop—we are truly walking this thing out together.

It is funny that even though I know I can “get on her last nerve,” that she still sees enough in me to continue on. Shoot, I probably get on my own nerves sometimes! Never have I truly had greater understanding of the statement, (altered only in context) from our former first lady, Victory Gibson, than I do now: “She knows me…and she still loves me!”

The funny thing is that I cannot even talk about what I do in ministry without saying “we.” Even though we live separate lives, so much of what we produce is predicated on “we.” I never thought that we would be so successful together. I have enjoyed watching her grow as we have been challenged. I have seen her fight for me—as she wars against every enemy through prayer.

Even when she doesn’t see me—because I am sequestered in my office, I know she is praying for me. She knows that each new season of victory brings new challenges in the face of what we have been called to do. Even though I could go on and say so much more, I will conclude with this statement, saying so much in its simplicity: “We walk together!”

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