After enjoying breakfast out this week with my dear friend Bernadette (we were St. Joseph School moms together in the 1990s in Cockeysville), I noticed how she graciously accepted a gift bag from me without any of that nonsense of “You didn’t have to get me anything.” She opened the birthday card and thanked me. There was none of that gibberish of “You shouldn’t have.” She accepted the breakfast treat without insisting to pay half or saying, “You don’t have to treat me.”
Bernadette received the birthday attention. Not only had she accepted the initial invitation to breakfast willingly without balking, but she had also accepted the gift, the card, the food, my time, and the love. She felt worthy and blessed to celebrate her sixty-first year of life as a vibrant successful faith-filled woman.
And that’s how birthdays should go.
None of this negating birthdays stuff. None of this batting away the attention. No laying low and not wanting to make a big deal of it. Acknowledge your date of birth! Reel it in. Savor it. Accept the attention. You’re worthy! Especially in God’s eyes.
Our mothers gave birth to us however many years ago, carried us in their bellies for months, and most likely went through horrific pain as we were squeezed into the world. When we honor our birthdays graciously, we’re honoring our mothers. That is the commemoration. (Moms actually should get the gifts and cakes, not us!) God gave us life and the good blessing to be present on Earth for yet another year. That is the observance and thanksgiving … and we are the celebration!
Yes, everyone has birthdays. Yes, there are many others with the same birth date as you. Yet … it is your birthday and it remains unique.
We all have observed friends and family members who don’t wish to reveal their ages – like they’re embarrassed or something. “I’m so old!” they’ll say, whether it’s 30 … 54 … 77.
Dead or alive? Pick one.
What’s the alternative to life? Isn’t whining about turning another year older basically saying, “I wish I was dead?”
I shall never forget this encounter one October as I was turning 30. I was working an event in a Macy’s public relations position I once held. Chatting with an age 80-something customer, I mentioned I was turning “The Big 30” in a few days. “I’m getting up there!” And she replied matter-of-factly, “Oh, big deal.” (Humbling lesson.)
Many of us know people or had friends or parents who died way too young. Do you think they would have liked to celebrate more years of life? Uh hello … yea! My best friend, Debbie, died in 2014 at age 56 from that stupid cancer. I know for a fact she would like to still be with us here. “I’m 56 and I’m dying,” I remember her saying.
We should glorify birthdays at every age. I say cease the negating, complaining, and swatting them away. Honor your life.
Celebrate your birthday … it’s a true blessing from God.
“For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.” [Proverbs 9:11]
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