Recently I celebrated my 66th birthday, got my
ears pierced for the first time, was treated to lunch and dinner, given a big
beautiful bouquet of flowers, a lovely “Grandma” plaque, and a $50 Amazon gift
card besides lots of love, hugs and well-wishes from family and friends.
Several years ago a lady remarked to me that she refuses to
celebrate her birthday because she had nothing to do with it. “Why celebrate my birthday as though I had
something to do with it? I didn’t plan
it, had no part in it, so why should I act like it’s a big deal?” I suspect she didn’t celebrate anyone else’s
either.
Is she right? Are
birthday celebrations a waste of time, money and energy?
The way I see it, remembering someone’s beginning is what
birthdays are all about. The day you
were born was a time of celebration for your parents, grandparents, aunts and
uncles, as they rejoiced at the tiny new life that made its appearance on earth.
Baby cards called you a bundle of joy, a
precious life, a reason to celebrate, and congratulated your parents.
As we celebrate a birthday, we evaluate ourselves, our
goals, where we are in life; each year is a milestone. Birthdays are a validation of one’s identity
and existence. It would be sad indeed to
see someone for whom there is no birthday celebration. A birthday celebration says, “I value you, God values you, and I’m glad you’re on the planet!” Birthdays also make us think: “Who am I? Where am I in life?”
Having a birthday isn’t all about “me.” Celebrating a birthday bonds family and
friends; our life stories are part of another’s. We remember our families are worth loving and
want to do something nice for them on their birthday.
Life is precious – created by God. He has a purpose and plan for each life, even
for those whose birth circumstances may have been far less than idyllic. No matter your circumstance at birth, God put
in you special gifts and abilities that are unique to you. You fill a place on earth that nobody else can
fill. You are a somebody! God didn’t make a “nobody!”
Children especially
look forward to celebrating their birthday each year – they are eager to be
older, do new things, grow taller, and have new freedoms. It’s refreshing to see the exuberance of a child
as he anticipates new things in life.
Celebrations are like the exclamation points of life. Do you find
it difficult to celebrate? Sometimes I
think we adults let the devil suck the joy out of our lives. We have a hard time celebrating anything
because we focus our attention on worries, guilt, condemnation over mistakes
made, work, “keeping our nose to the grindstone,” so to speak. There’s an old saying: “All work and no play
makes Jack a dull boy.”
God wants us to enjoy life – to enjoy Him – to celebrate! The Old Testament is full of commands for God’s
people to feast and celebrate His goodness. I love the Scripture in John 10:10 (Amplified
Bible) where Jesus says, “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and
destroy. I came that they may have and
enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” I Timothy 6:17 tells us to set our hopes on
God, “Who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”
God delights in His creation; He needs you here on
earth. Psalm 139:13-16 shows His value
on birthdays, yes, even all the days of your life: “For you created my inmost
being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and
wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made
in the secret place. When I was woven
together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in
your book before one of them came to be.”
Copyright © 2012 Elaine Beachy
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