Ever wished somebody a “Happy Birthday” and they tell you they are not celebrating them anymore? Maybe it is about the number or they don’t like to be the center of attention, but the fact is every birthday is a day to be celebrated. This is the day God chose for you to make your entrance into the world. You were created with a purpose and plan designed specifically by Him! When we are young we can’t wait to celebrate our birthday or get to a magic number, but somehow as time goes along and the older we get, we don’t put as many candles on the cake or celebrate the goodness of life. We treat it like any other day, but it is a special day. Every day we get to live here is another day to share God’s love and make a difference in this world.
Age is just a number. Why do we allow a number to define and control what we do for God? It doesn’t matter how young or how old we are. We can all do something! The older I get the more I understand the urgency of not slacking off and keeping focused on what is important. Birthdays are a great way to review the blessings of the past year and to set new goals for the coming year.
Last year I started keeping a journal of “Happy Notes” to remind myself of all the happy moments God gave to me throughout this past year. It has been a difficult year for various reasons, but when I look back and read my “Happy Notes”, I can’t help but smile about the faithfulness of God in so many ways. Not everything went the way I wanted it to, but I trust God enough to know His plan is perfect even when I don’t understand it.
If all we ever do is dwell on the bad things in life, we never appreciate the good things in life. Think about every good and perfect gift God has given to you over the past year. The breath you are breathing is a wonderful gift. It means God is not done with you!
There may be things about our physical bodies that change because of aging, but God will never change how He feels about you. So the next time you celebrate your birthday, celebrate it the way God intended. Thank Him for all He has done and will do. Let Him continue to do His good work in you and be faithful to complete it. Besides, isn’t it great to have a reason to eat cake?
Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:17
Jana Kiphart says
Awesome Sheila!! You are truly an angel of Gods work! You are the glitter & inspiration of my days !! I pray you have the happiest birthday ever!! Love you!!
Toni Ryan says
Great reminder that God has a plan and purpose for each and every one of us!
Happy birthday friend!!