What's forty years among friends?

Curt read the words, ". . . over forty years old."

My mind started to race. Gee, how long was that?

Well, I got married when I was  21 - about half.

Hey wait, we're in the 45th year of our marriage.

That's about the right time frame.

Hmmm, I've been married more than twice as long as I was single. 

Yes, more than 40 years is a good long stretch of time.

When we got married we bought a loaf of bread for about 22¢, a gallon of milk for about $1.20, and a gallon of gas for about 34¢. The rent on our nice one bedroom apartment was $130 a month. When we returned from our honeymoon we filled our kitchen cabinets for $35.

Now I've got some context to help my understanding, let me consider those four words again.

"For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old." Acts 4:22*

The four words grabbed my thoughts more fully. 

The man lived as an immobile cripple for about twice as long as I lived as a single lady. 

The man was carried every day to the temple gate for about as long as I've been married.

The man sat begging alms for about as long as it's been since I bought bread for 22¢.

Then, on THAT DAY . . . 

. . . the man was healed by the Loving and Sovereign LORD. 

The man walked and jumped and praised God's Holy Name all around Solomon's Colonnade. 

The man's wholeness and joy displayed the awesome power and intimate richness of God's loving kindness.

The man's healing provided undeniable evidence of the Gospel, inspired the testimonies of the disciples and curbed the attacks of the opposition.

Dear LORD, I want my life to serve You in this way. Please cause me to rest in your hands no matter the circumstances, the feelings, the time. Please allow me to walk and jump and praise Your Name for the healing You've granted my soul that You might be glorified and others come to know You. Thank you. Amen

*Gather rich blessings by reading through the account of the healing which begins in Acts 3.