First, I had a birthday smoothie, took a birthday shower and watched the sun come up on my birthday morning. As I was putting on my birthday socks, I thought (again, like every year) how tedious it is to have birthday so soon after the holiday season. But it's not important, because birthday's such a great thing to have at all.
Yes, yes, birthday presents, cards, Facebook greetings, text messages and phone calls, all so super duper cool. But I've had enough birthdays to know that if you are not already happy, no present or card or message can make you. Seriously, if your Happy depends on gifts and cards, you will have many miserable birthdays, because there are always people who forget. Which doesn't mean they don't love you.
I didn't have a birthday party, for the tedious reason that a week after New Year, everybody, including me, is all partied out. I did have couple of my girls over, I made them birthday lunch and they made me a gluten free birthday pear pie. It was so delicious it should be illegal. Even on my birthday.
So after I saw them out, I had a little moment of birthday contemplation of the "thing" of birthday. The difference between the day of our birth and the day of our spiritual re-birth, baptism.
Apostle John writes:
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
(Jn 3;12-13)
Funny, when I was baptized, I was born of God, not by human decision... and yet it was my decision - and quite important, that it was!
And when I was born to my parents, the Bible says that was by human decision, yet the miracle of birth is beyond human influence; and I surely had no word in it.
I love this birthday paradox.
So in a few weeks, I will be celebrating my spiritual birthday, the best decision I've ever made. Almost a little bit of an ego trip there. But yesterday was the day when God thought me worthy to come into existance. And THAT is to be celebrated. NOt only one day in a year, but all the time.
So thank you, all of you who thought of me and wrote me messages and cards, who called, gave me presents,baked pies for me, or even those of you who forgot but would have loved to connect with me had you thought of it. I know that you care, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
You remind me that God almighty finds we worthy of existence. You remind me that life that I have is a gift, and not an achievement. You remind me that I am rich, just because I notice the wonderful little things that everyday is made of.
Thank you for celebrating with me. For when I see you tomorrow or next week then it's not my birthday, our encounter will remind me again how wonderful it is to be alive, and that I have the power to decide to be grateful. And therefore rich.
It's not about big deals and parties (not all the time, anyway). It's about the little things. It's about a quiet birthday dinner with my husband, who so many times since we have met, regularily says: thank you that you are there. It's about a spontaneous talk with a friend I haven't seen in a while.
It's about realizing that YOU are a gift in my life. So I want to honor you by inviting you to my birthday party.. .that WILL take place. In April.
I have two conditions though.
- You must let me know that you are coming - no surprises, and please, no cancelling.
- It's a 20's party, so you NEED to have an appropriate outfit. No excuses, that's the ticket into the party.
So how about take this week, from today, next 7 days, to chill and let go and appreciate the small things?
How about we don't complain AT ALL at least for a day, and just appreciate.
Pick a day in the next seven days when you will not say anything negative, and actively SEEK positive perspective about everything, no matter what comes your way.
No cynism, no bitter undertones, come on! no "but that situation" of "you don't understand"... Seriously. One day. We should do this all the time, so surely you can manage one day. =)
