My mom is in the hospital as I write this for a pretty serious back surgery. She is recovering well, just in a lot of pain. The surgery and her recovery has taken place ironically at the same hospital I was born in 43 years ago today. They have moved her to the older part of the hospital. She told me this morning: "who knows, maybe it was this very room you were born in." That was a weird thought.
Where did 43 years go? I don't feel 43. I definitely don't act 43. When I was eight 43 seemed very old. When I was 18 it seemed even older. I have very vivid memories of my childhood. I can remember graduating from high school like it was yesterday. They were not joking when they said time truly flies by after high school. Our birthdays and New Years Day help us reflect twice a year that life is short and we better make the most of it because one thing for sure we cannot control is getting older.
One of my Spanish speaking friends wrote on my facebook page:"FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS"
Literally translated from Spanish to English it means "Happy years completed." I like that. I have completed 43 years! Some were better than others. Some were easier than others. Never the less, they are complete.
One of my favorite writers Henri Nouwen said this about birthdays:
"Birthdays are so important. On our birthdays we celebrate being alive. On our birthdays people can say to us, "Thank you for being!" Birthday presents are signs of our families' and friends' joy that we are part of their lives. Little children often look forward to their birthdays for months. Their birthdays are their big days, when they are the center of attention and all their friends come to celebrate. We should never forget our birthdays or the birthdays of those who are close to us. Birthdays keep us childlike. They remind us that what is important is not what we do or accomplish, not what we have or who we know, but that we are, here and now. On birthdays let us be grateful for the gift of life."
In other words we should make a bigger deal out of birthdays than any other accomplishments, graduations, or successes because of the simple fact that we were born. We count. We matter. We exist. Most importantly we matter to God. He created us and gave us purpose and in Christ gives us hope. Celebrating birthdays matter because we matter to Him.
So on my birthday I offer this simple prayer:
"Lord, let my birthday be a reminder to me of all the gifts and blessings I have received from You this day and all the days of my life. On my day of celebration, I thank you for my life and all of my blessings and ask for another year filled with Your presence in my life that I may continue to grow in your love. Gracious God, I thank You for enabling me to celebrate my birthday. Lord You have been good to me all these years and I thank You for all the blessings I have recieved but especially for life itself. Creator God, I do not know what lies ahead for me this year. Yet I know that You are holding my future in Your hand. Let my ways be pleasing to you. As You have promised, be with me, Lord. Gird me with Your strength and grace so that I can live for Your light. Enable me to draw closer to You that I may walk in your peace and be the creative and loving person that you intend for me to be. I ask this and all things in the sure and certain knowledge of your love for me and for all your people. Amen."
