For my birthday I got a humidifier and a de-humidifier... I put them in the same room and let them fight it out. ---Stephen Wright
My birthday was last week so I thought, “What a Novel idea to write about that!” Now, I don’t have a problem with birthdays, as long as they aren’t mine. I never really have been into celebrating them. I mean I like getting presents and all but some where deep down inside me, it just doesn’t click.
It’s not just presents though, it’s the singing, cake & ice cream and let’s party till we drop mentality. I’m not that into parties. Singing “Happy Birthday” always seems to embarrass me; I’m diabetic so the cake and ice cream are out. (I know what you’re thinking, “Paul, get sugar free stuff!” Nope, that stuff just doesn’t taste right to me and I consider it a tease!); I don’t drink alcohol so I find different ways to party.
My idea of a great birthday is hanging out with friends, a nap; dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, a nap and possibly another nap. (What can I say…? I like naps!!!) Of course, hanging out at the pool/beach is fun to and a nap, I always get some good reading done there.
What’s this got to do with my inside job??? Maybe I need to renew my mind to this way of thinking. After all, I am setting an example for my son as well as I couldn’t stand not giving my friends the chance of embarrassing me! I do it to them, fair is fair!
So I pose this question to you…
Am I thinking correctly on this or do I truly need to get over it and start enjoying my birthdays more?
While you consider a answer, let’s see what God has to say. As I researched this, I soon realized I wasn’t prepared well enough to share a verse about celebrating birthdays or your attitude about these things. Panic set in, I am not ready to finish this article… I will be late to post it.
Then an idea sprang forth, how many birthday cards have I received with biblical verses on them. Yes, what a wonderful idea I thought to myself. So, I furiously dug through all my old holiday and birthday cards. (Yes, I save every card I ever received. Sentimental it may be but it was more to the fact I couldn’t bring myself to throwing away these memories…especially from my son.)
This is what I came up with, or at least my favorite ones:
"This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalm 118:24
This one brings a tear to my eye everytime.
"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well."
3 John 1:2
Wonderful prayer, wonderful birthday verse!
"Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate."
Luke 15:23
Since I don’t eat red meat this one isn’t exactly appropriate. Can we kill the fattened fish?
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Philippians 4:4
Okay, so I think I should rejoice everyday. Looks like a mind renewing action daily is in the cards for me.
"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you."
1 Thessalonians 3:12
Okay, tears again…
What did I find in all this? I see that I need to change my mind about all this and except God’s rejoicing words of wisdom. Since it is my heart to love all people as God does that means I must accept them for whom God has inspired in them.
Today, I have a new birthday attitude but not exactly what you may think. I decided to celebrate my birthday by giving gifts to those who mean the most to me in life. Those who have provided me much joy and also much understanding. This is how I want to thank them for loving the God in Christ in me. Isn’t that what Jesus would have done?
"God bless you and keep you,
God smile on you and gift you,
God look you full in the face
and make you prosper."
Numbers 6:24-26
