60 Lessons

I’m sixty now. I’m not sure how it happened so quickly after turning fifty, but here I am. Sixty seems bigger, older, and more profound. It feels like there should be some wisdom attached to that age. I sure hope there is!

I decided to reflect a little on my sixty years by sharing 60 Lessons that I hope will cause you to stop and think about your own life.

✨ Spiritual Life

1. God’s timing is always perfect, even when it’s hard to wait.
2. Prayer changes things—especially your own heart.
3. Scripture holds answers for every season of life.
4. Grace is undeserved, but consistently enough and right on time.
5. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
6. The still, small voice of God is often the most powerful.
7. Forgiveness frees you more than it frees others.
8. Your identity is in Christ, not your title or accomplishments.

🍎 Wisdom from the Classroom

9. Every child can learn—you just have to find the right key.
10. Patience is as much a teaching tool as the curriculum.
11. Sometimes students won’t remember what you taught, but they will remember how you made them feel.
12. A teacher’s love can change the course of a student’s life.
13. Not every lesson goes perfectly, and that’s okay.
14. The best classroom management tool is relationship.
15. Encouragement can plant the seed for lifelong confidence.
16. You never stop being a student, no matter how long you’ve been teaching.

❤️ Relationships

17. Time is the most valuable gift you can give.
18. You don’t have to participate in every argument you’re invited to.
19. The people closest to you shape your life the most—choose wisely.
20. Listening is more powerful than speaking.
21. Love is a verb—it requires action.
22. Vulnerability is a sign of strength. 
23. The small things often become the big things.
24. It’s okay to say “no” without guilt.
25. You can’t fix everyone’s problems—and that’s not your job.

💪 Personal Growth 

26. Growth comes through hard times.
27. Change is hard, but not changing is harder.
28. Rest is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Sabbath well!
29. The hard seasons teach you the most.
30. Confidence grows when you show up consistently.
31. Failure is not the end—it’s part of the process.
32. Your past doesn’t define you or your future.
33. True humility is knowing your worth and giving God the glory.

🌿 Living Fully

34. Joy is a choice, not just a feeling.
35. Laughter really is good medicine.
36. Gratitude can transform your perspective.
37. Slowing down is spiritual, not lazy.
38. You don’t need to be busy to be meaningful.
39. Books feed the soul.
40. A peaceful home is more valuable than a perfect one.
41. Sometimes a nap, a walk, or a good cry can solve more than a long talk.

🕊️ Legacy 

42. Influence is more important than recognition.
43. Your story matters—even the broken parts.
44. Legacy is not what you leave behind, but who you leave behind.
45. God isn’t finished with you at 60—He’s still writing your story.
46. Young people need your wisdom! (Don’t hold back, Nancy.)
47. The older you get, the more clearly you see what really matters.

💍 Marriage  

48. A strong marriage is built on forgiveness, laughter, and choosing each other every day.
49. You grow together by growing in God first.
50. Love deepens through life’s challenges, not just its joys.
51. Communication and prayer are the glue of a long marriage.
52. Growing old together is worth all the hardaches along the way.  
53. Hugs and saying “I love you” are important. 
54. Best friends make the best marriages, so spend time together and build the friendship.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parenting & Grandparenting

That’s a wrap on 60 Lessons! Of course, they are just phrases that don’t share much in detail, but each one has a story attached to it. A lot happens in sixty years, more than just 60 Lessons.