Our firstborn turned 50 recently so it was time to celebrate! Family came from afar to join us which was an added bonus and it was a wonderful weekend together. I think that was Cathy's favourite gift. She loves her family with a passion.
I have to admit that I enjoy celebrations for other people but I don't really enjoy a celebration that makes me the centre of attention. I suspect many of us are like that. On pondering this I was reminded of a little 'piece' by Henri Nouwen, one of my favourite devotional writers and I'd like to share it with you.
"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 centre 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."
Yes, let's not forget to celebrate that 'we are'. Our life is a gift from our great Creator and 'we are fearfully and wonderfully made.' Let me leave you with some verses from Psalm 139.....
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvellous - how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day day passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! Psalm 139:13-17
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for making me, loving me and watching over me every day of my life. Help me to realise afresh how precious I am to You and celebrate that with You. Amen
