What's Your Perspective on Birthdays?

It's my birthday today!

If I had my preference, I'd spend the day surrounded by my family and friends. Since my family is now scattered up the East Coast, I'm going to do the next best thing. 

This morning, I'll have breakfast with my eldest daughter in Washington, DC, where she lives and works. This evening, I'll have dinner with my husband and my youngest daughter in Lynchburg, Virginia, where she attends school at Liberty University.

So I can take the day off from blogging, I am reposting a popular devotional post entitled "A New Perspective on Birthdays." Scroll down to read it and reflect.

If you'd like to bless me on my birthday, would you take a moment to post a comment below and share a story about how God has used Hungry for God in your life this year? Sometimes it's a little lonely posting to a cyberworld, and it's nice to hear that God is using my little blog. I hope to hear from you.

 

 A New Perspective on Birthdays

 

I was writing an article on breast cancer survivors, and the “Pink Posse” invited me to join them at their monthly support group meeting.  They call themselves the Pink Posse because they are “roped together” in their fight against breast cancer.  The women in the group share the common bond of a breast cancer diagnosis and are in various stages of treatment. 

 An important part of each meeting is Praise Time.  They share good medical news, family events, and other things for which they are thankful.  When Susan’s turn came, she said enthusiastically, “I will be 50 years old next week!”

Among my friends, if one of us made that announcement, it would be accompanied by a groan and a sigh.  The rest of us would respond to her with good-natured pats on the back and sympathetic nods as we all pondered the rapidly approaching day. This group of women, however, responded quite differently.  Almost immediately, the table erupted with cheers, clapping, and shouts of celebration.  Their response was so different from what I expected that I was silent for a moment before I smiled halfheartedly at Susan.

Almost immediately the Holy Spirit gave me insight into the situation.  I realized Susan was celebrating because she wondered at one time if she would live to see her 50^th birthday.   I was filled with shame as I realized how much I take for granted the life that I live every day.  It had never occurred to me that I might not live to see 50, or 60, or 70.  Instead of being grateful for each year of life, I had been dreading the advancing age each birthday represented.

Psalm 90:12 instructs us, “. . . teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” That day I vowed to the Lord that I would never take another birthday for granted.  I promised to rejoice in “all the days ordained for me,” and I committed to do my best to welcome each new year of life with eager anticipation.  

Will you join me in greeting each day (and each birthday) as a day that the Lord has made?  Let us rejoice together and be glad in it!

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