My wife Karen's great Aunt Jean turns 105 today!   Happy Birthday Aunt Jean!   What a milestone!   And, what a life!       Jean made a career out of teaching school in the North Carolina mountains in the small southern town of Andrews.    Former students relate that she was tough and she was fair.   They also relate that you never....ever....wore a cap into her class.   That spelled big trouble!      So, a few years back some of us guys in the family purchased some ball caps with big letters on the front which read,  "AUNT JEAN'S HAT," which we all wore into her house that day.    After getting a playful chewing out...she laughed and thought it was hilarious.

Jean jokingly attributes her longevity to never being married.  She stated to me not long ago that she "didn't have a man to bring her down."    I have been privileged to know Jean for 30 years.   Observing her life I have been inspired and instructed.    She not only has obtained quantity of life, but she also has lived a quality life.    As I think about Aunt Jean on this her 105th birthday I reflect upon some of the many qualities in her life that have enabled her to live a long and a good life...they include:

-A great sense of humor.   Jean never took life nor herself too seriously.   This reminds me of the wise philosophy which teaches - - Take yourself less seriously; take God and his ways more seriously.

-An incredibly open mind.     Aunt Jean has seen SO many changes in her lifetime.   It reminds me of Tofler's "Future Shock."   Yet, Jean has remained a person who "bends so that she will not break."    She has an amazing mind for her age.  And, she has an amazingly open mind for her age.  As someone has truthfully stated, "A closed mind is like a closed parachute."    The result is a hard fall!

-A deep, abiding faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.    Jean speaks naturally about her Savior and supports this verbal affirmation with a Christian lifestyle.

-A great love for Lance crackers.     When you ask Jean about her favorite snack she will say, "I love Lance crackers."     Karen and I think that Lance crackers has missed an incredible opportuinty for a very effective advertisement campagin for their product.  Imagine having a 105 year old lady in the mountains of North Carolina ...saying, "I have enjoyed Lance crackers ever since they started making their product.   A pack of Lance crackers a day keeps the doctor away!"    Well maybe not, but Aunt Jean, at 105 years of age, I think you should have a pack of Lance crackers on us today.....and any day you wish!   Happy birthday Aunt Jean!