48 Things I’ve Learned in 48 Years

Today I turned 48. I’ve lived long enough to know that life will hand you lessons you didn’t ask for, joy you didn’t see coming, and grace you didn’t think you deserved. Some seasons felt endless… but they weren’t. Some friendships didn’t last forever… but they still shaped me. I’ve learned that the women in my life have been more than family — they’ve been my teachers, my prayer warriors, and my safe places.

I’ve learned that Jesus is faithful in every single season, that marriage is worth every ounce of work, and that motherhood is the hardest and holiest job I will ever have. So, in honor of my 48th birthday, here are 48 lessons — the real, the raw, the funny, and the faith-filled — that life has taught me so far.

• Waking up is proof God’s not done with me yet — so I’m going to live like it.

• Take care of your back and your knees. You’ll thank yourself later.

• Love your mom. She did her best, and one day you’ll see just how much that was.

• God’s plan rarely matches my timeline, but His version is always better.

• Sleep is a spiritual discipline — it fixes far more than attitude.

• Seasons will change — don’t fight the winter when God’s preparing you for spring.

• Hormones are not a personality trait. Get them balanced.

• Forgive yourself for the years you didn’t know better.

• Forgive quickly, love deeply, and move on before bitterness grows roots.

• Joy is a weapon. Use it often.

• The women God places in your life aren’t just friends — they’re teachers, prayer warriors, and lifelines.

• Motherhood will stretch you, sanctify you, and sometimes send you to the pantry to eat Oreos in peace.

• Take time to love you — not the filtered, cleaned-up version, but the real, messy, beautiful you.

• Hard seasons don’t last, but they will teach you lessons you can’t learn any other way.

• Sometimes gratitude is the only thing that will shift your perspective.

• The best friendships survive distance, silence, and the chaos of life — because they’re rooted in love.

• My body is not my enemy — it’s the vessel God gave me for my calling.

• Rest is not lazy. It’s essential.

• Red lipstick can change your mood faster than caffeine.

• A healthy marriage needs laughter just as much as prayer.

• Your testimony is someone else’s survival guide. Share it.

• The older I get, the less I care about fitting in — I’d rather stand out in truth.

• Pray over your kids like it’s your job — because it is.

• You can’t heal if you keep picking at the wound.

• Redemption isn’t just for eternity — it’s for the here and now.

• Never compare yourself as a mom — your kids don’t need a perfect mom, they need you.

• Loving yourself well makes you love others better.

• What God removes, He replaces with better.

• Being a wife means choosing your husband every single day — especially during football season.

• The Holy Spirit is a better GPS than anything on your phone.

• Sometimes the bravest thing you can say is, “I need help.”

• I am living proof you can survive the thing you thought would break you.

• Peace is worth more than being right.

• Some of the best life lessons come from women who’ve lived through more than you can imagine — listen to them.

• Take the picture — even if you don’t love how you look.

• Grief and gratitude can live in the same heart.

• God wastes nothing.

• You don’t need an invitation to sit at the table God built for you.

• Apologize when you’re wrong — especially to your children. Humility lasts longer than mistakes.

• You can love someone deeply and still choose not to let them hurt you again.

• Don’t ignore those Holy Spirit nudges — they’re there for a reason.

• Sometimes the miracle is just making it through the day without quitting.

• Time with the women who love you is never wasted — it’s soul maintenance.

• A smaller circle can mean a bigger peace.

• Stand firm in your convictions — even if it means standing alone. God honors obedience over popularity.

• When God closes a door, stop trying to pick the lock.

• Jesus really is enough — in loss, in plenty, and in the in-between.

• The best is still ahead of me.

If I could wrap all of these into one truth, it would be this: God wastes nothing. Every high, every heartbreak, every “I didn’t think I’d survive this” moment has shaped me into the woman I am today. And if I’m still here — if you’re still here — it’s because God’s not finished yet. The best really is still ahead.

My Prayer:

Jesus, thank You for the last 48 years — for every season, every lesson, and every person You’ve placed in my life. Thank You for the women who have taught me, prayed for me, and stood beside me. Thank You for my family, for friendships that have shaped me, and for the moments of joy that carried me through the hardest days. I’m grateful for the trials that refined me, the grace that restored me, and the love that has never let me go. As I step into this next year, I carry every blessing, every memory, and every ounce of wisdom You’ve given me — knowing You have been faithful and will continue to be.

In your name,

Amen.

Want to Go Deeper?

I’ve created a special 48 Years of Lessons devotional you can download for free. It’s a space for you to reflect on your own seasons, the people who’ve shaped you, and the ways God has been faithful in your story — even in the hard chapters.

📥 [Click below to download your devotional worksheet]