The "I's" have it...at least until age 20

                                                           

My daughter Erin and I have significant birthdays this year.

She turned thirty yesterday and since I was almost 30 when I had her,  I will be ..., well lets just say it is coming up this February.

These two events caused me to stop and reflect a little on the eight or nine different decades we may live in this life in terms of how we see ourselves and how we relate to others. (I will probably  have to revise the last three decades once I have actually lived them.)

Age 0-10  
 "What am I?"    (human, gender, eternal soul....)

Age 10-20
 "Who am I?"  How am I different from my parents and their
their culture?"

Age 20-30 
 "We are the future and if we have any questions we will

ask the internet or our peers."    

Age 30-40 
 My new identity is "parent", we have little time to talk, even to

each other."

Age 40-50 
"I need wisdom, how did you do this?

Age 50-60 
"I have learned so much now, but few are interested."

Age 60-70 
"I am no longer defined by others' actions or opinions. My identity is in you Lord."

Age 70-80  
"They say; 'There's no fool like an old fool',  Lord, help me not to

become one now!"

Age 80-90
 " My influence is coming near the end.  Here I come  Lord, any day now."