Birthdays -- who needs them?

A birthday is coming! And, the numbers are getting larger!  I have no shame, only gladness in having survived so long in such a dangerous place as planet earth!

Friends are a wonderful part of life. I recall a birthday spent with a friend whose front door was about 25 miles from my own. We laughed, exchanged gifts and told stories, as her birthday is only ten days from mine. Given a few moments alone, I wander out on her deck where the view is grand. Crowned with sunshine, all of nature seems to shout, “Celebrate!”

Vines wind their way along the deck, carrying the tiniest grapes ever seen. Bending low, I peer close to examine such a find as fruit in embryotic state. They look like little mustard seeds, only green, hanging by a thread of a stem.

Tempted, I nearly pull off a cluster in order to better see, yet a stronger urge says, “Stop! Think of the wine that will not be!”  Yes, even this minute offering holds potential for moments of joy to be savored by some soul. The urge to pluck it loose for curious pleasure is gone as I realize my innate tendencies to serve and satisfy self as if in neon lights.

Here on my birthday, the celebration is suddenly ditched as thoughts of abortion crowd in. Whatever your viewpoint, we are all affected. It is important to keep thinking about this, pondering and listening for God’s take through Scripture and through prayer.

Some time back, I, too, was a mere embryo like the grapes now viewed. It was not a good time for my parents to bring a child into the world. My mother told me of sitting by the hours weeping as I lay slumbering within her womb. My gratitude for the gift of life includes thinking of her suffering, plus nearly losing her life through my birth. What if abortion had been legal? Perhaps I would not have come to be here on earth. I would not be sitting, writing to you. There would be no birthdays, here, at least not for me.

Life is a gift that carries God’s promise to indwell us, provide for and protect us. With God’s help we are up to any and all tasks we are called to face. There is no circumstance too hard for Him to work through and transmute into goodness and glory for those who will trust.

Within each new child gifts await to unfurl and to bloom. Scientists, musicians, writers, teachers—Saints?

The joy that is to flow through a little child cannot be compared with any other gift of life. Besides having Gary to love, my three sons are the best part of my life.

Sometimes the little people who come to us have a very short time to strut their stuff. I think of Matthew, a 3-year-old who died close to my birthday in the past. Residing in Washington State with his parents, he was not someone I met and knew. He was the nephew of friends. Through them I knew of this little one’s journey. Many of us prayed, hoping for his healing as he suffered immensely for the entire duration of his short life. But he came gifted and he gave.

You see, Matthew would not give up. Once having seen the glory of sunshine, he held tenaciously to the gift of life. My friend Shirley said of him, “That little guy was something else. A fighter … he just had a no-good body.”  Now released, he has gone to the arms of the Father of all—healed, but not without first fulfilling his destiny. His legacy rests within the family tree—most of all, strength, courage and unity among thousands of believers coast to coast who were called upon to pray for Matthew to be able to stay with us.

What about our families? So often there is a tendency to simply tolerate those closest to us, valuing more those who live at some distance. Yet, are not our family members given for mystery, beyond finite purpose? Usually, those who are closest to us have power to rub us in ways that can best polish our rough edges. Rubbing and emotional squeezing happens between us which doesn’t always feel good. Still, it brings out the wine: the treasure of our belonging to one another, the history of our love.

With God’s grace and His Holy Spirit within, we can transcend the cognitive dissonance that comes with being human with the felt need to control everything . . . our impatience and fears. If we can master these daily foes, we can sip the various “vintages,” savoring precious moments with the people God has given to us to love.

Luke chapter 12, verses 6-7, holds an amazing truth, “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

May God grant us the grace to let Him carry our fears and apprehensions when we encounter difficulties and experiences that look too difficult, or unappealing. Let’s ever look forward to the good that He allows to come to us, along with the strength and empowerment. Through all, we learn to trust. How glorious it is to see how our Creator—Father God, turns to good what looks bad to us.

Happy birthday to you all!