Blog for January 6th, 2025
40! Intentionality!
Yep, Forty! My husband now has Forty years clean, and I am so proud of him. I am so grateful, feeling so blessed. This weekend we had a little party for him, some of our friends came and about five relatives. Everyone spoke of the good memories and the feelings, love, gratitude and thoughts they have of my husband. He is amazing, of that, there is no denying.
I don’t mean this in any kind of way except, if you think staying clean for forty years is easy, you do it. Through all of life’s ups and downs, births, deaths, kids moving in and out, family issues, financial issues, relationships, work, health, spiritual, community, and all that goes into forty years of the one day at a time, he has stayed clean.
Staying clean with the death of his daughter, the separation of a son that won’t speak to him anymore, his chronic health issues, are just skimming the surface of issues. I realize that these issues are not exclusive to him or us, everyone goes through life’s ups and downs!
But what sets him apart is that through it all, no matter what, and certainly, one day at time, he has not only stayed clean, but he has also stayed faithful, loving and keeps trusting God, in all these matters. I would have to say, my husband is a man’s man, but in the most loving way there is. He cares, he helps, he gives, he stays calm and works his program, giving all his troubles to his loving God.
Needless to say, he is my rock, my north star, my ride or die, my support and my constant. I realize how blessed I am and I’m so thankful for that, for him and our life together. His forty years clean this week is only the beginning of our 40-40-40 year! I will have my forty in April and we will be married forty years in June. This is a special year indeed. Last Fall I attended a weekly woman’s bible study and learned about how special and important forty is, with great spiritual connotations.
Some of the major “40’s”: it rained for forty days and nights when Noah got everyone on the ark, meaning the great flood lasted forty days and nights. Moses and the people he led wandered in the desert for forty years. Elijah the prophet walked forty days to the Mt. of God, Horeb. Jesus was tested in the wilderness for forty days and nights where he resisted the devil. Jesus ascended to heaven after forty days walking on earth again after his crucifixion. From Christmas to Presentation Day- the day that Mary & Joesph presented Jesus in the temple in Jerusalem is forty days, which is February 2nd. Also, gestation and pregnancy is usually forty weeks.
So, yes, forty years is nothing short of miraculous and our gratitude and thankfulness is so immense that there are not the words to explain it. God is so good. When I asked him how he did it, he said “ I didn’t pick up no matter what. I didn’t use because my mom or dad died, I have a God who shows me how to do it one day at a time. I have hundreds of supporters who tell me how to do it all the time. I hear the little cliches all the time and when I’ve wanted to get loaded, I think on those things. If they can do it, I can too. I love not being out of my mind, I love being not loaded. There are people I could name, people who came into my life that supported me wholeheartedly. One thing that helped me early on was getting a phone list. One day when I was working, I was having a hard time and called every number on that list until someone answered. It was a newcomer, the last one on the list. That guy came and got me, and we went for coffee. He reminded me it’s only one day at a time. So, the phone list saved my life- that day. Addicts helping addicts is how it’s worked for me. I had inspiration from so many people, even the ones that died. Being married to a recovering addict who helps me and cares for me in my recovery journey is a huge support. I also stay clean by loving and appreciating the people in my life who care for me and for showing my gratitude to them. I have a God who helps me in my recovery daily and I give Him all the credit! He restored me to sanity.”
I’m sure there are other examples, but the Bible is clear that forty is very significant. Meanings of these examples have been explained in that forty means repentance, newness, preparation for important task, self-examination, transformation, escape from bondage. It also means nourishment, growth in spiritual life and fulfillment. Redemption, salvation, new generation of life. A generation of people is typically every forty years. Psalm 90:12 says to approach the fortieth year with “intentionality”, seeking God’s wisdom, so we can make the most of the time God has given us, because our days are numbered here on earth.
Jesus’ accent to heaven was forty days after appearing to everyone on earth, which can mean we also die to self, and we can have a spiritual rebirth. Lent is forty days, ending on Easter. Which is the rebirth time and time for reflection and growth. It’s the completion of a period of time between one divine covenant to another.
I feel that all these meanings are magnified for us due to the fact that this year is not just Jim’s forty years, but mine also and our fortieth wedding anniversary. Of course, our salvation is more precious than forty years clean, but without staying clean we would not be following God’s will very well, we’d be dead.
I know this blog is longer than most, but forty years deserve special attention. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us this year. I mean, even right now Jim wanted to hear the song “standing on the promises of God”. See…? See what I mean, my husband is amazing and walks with the Lord, for that, I’m ever so grateful.
Question of the Week: What do you think about forty being a spiritual number? Are you intentional with your life?
