Happy Birth Day

I grew up in a family that always celebrated birthdays. We all looked forward to each one that was coming along. My daughter's husband and his family never celebrate birthdays. I have become her celebrator. Last week I gave her a card to send to her husband. It pictures a woman entering her house loaded down with packages and saying to her spouse, "Surprise, it's my birthday."

Why are birthdays important. Birthdays say "Thank you for being born and being among us." Birthdays are more important than celebrating a successful exam, promotion or victory. Birthdays celebrate and exhalt you as a human being, not what you did, said, or accomplished.

Birthdays celebrate the present--not what happened in the past, nor what we think will happen in the future. But on this special day, we get to say, "We love you."

For some, birthdays can mean a new beginning. However the past has been, we are made new on that day and given a new start surrounded by people who love. us. The late Catholic priest Henri Nouwen told of a friend who on his birthday is picked up by his friends and carried into the bathroom, where he is thrown into a full tub of water, clothes and all. It is a tradition for his friend who feels washed clean again for a new start.

Celebrating a birthday helps us to experience the goodness of life. We are saying, "It's good you're alive; it's good to have you walking with me on this earth." If you are the celebrator, you will be showing gratitude, kindness, forgiveness, gentleness and affection. Nouwen suggests that we "really need to celebrate peoples' birthdays every day." The world would be a kinder place.

My husband's birthday is this week--may he feel all the goodness and joy coming his way. And may my son-in-law wake up and understand the joy he could bring my daughter.

By Anne Brower  |  July 20, 2009; 9:32 AM ET  | Category:  Faith and Healing
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Posted by: ccnl1 | July 22, 2009 2:34 PM
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