A letter to a friend on her birthday…
My Dear Friend,
I realize that the last thing you may have wanted today was another birthday card; another reminder that you have grown a year older. I won’t presume to understand exactly why or how it bothers you, but I wanted to share this perspective with you.
So, close your eyes and imagine – No wait! If you close your eyes you won’t be able to finish reading this. Ok…, read the following with your eyes open and try to visualize in your mind what I’m describing below. Are you ready? Remember – try to visualize…
It’s your birthday. The nurse just handed your tiny little self into your mother’s arms. She’s crying with joy and her heart is so full of love that it’s just overflowing. Your dad is so happy that his new baby girl has arrived. He’s amazed and filled with Awe – he’s been through it before, but it never ceases to amaze him that he’s got this wonderful little bundle of joy to take care of. He’s so proud!
Your siblings are eagerly waiting to hear that they have a new little sibling and have already started to argue over who gets to hold “little sister” first. Everyone in the family can sense the excitement.
Aunts and uncles, grandparents, relatives and family-friends are all elated. Their prayers have been answered and you have been born into the world.
That’s a little glimpse of what it was like on earth.
In heaven, there are a multitude of angels and saints singing praise to God for your birth. They know what a treasure you will be for your family. They look down and recognize the blessing that you are to your parents and they foresee the great things you will accomplish in your life – the lives you will impact, the increase of love that God will bring to the world through you – knowing that you may never recognize these things for yourself. They know that you will eventually be the mother of your own children and foresee their impact in the world, too!
Then there are your ancestors. Your great-grandparents, deceased relatives, and friends of the family that have been watching over your family for generations …all hoping and praying to God for the greatest gifts that God has to offer for their descendants. They too, thank God for your soul and the love that will multiply through you and because of you.
It is truly a day of celebration in heaven and on earth.
The angels, the saints, the ancestors, your family and friends – everyone who knows and loves you – celebrates your existence everyday of your life with hugs, smiles and tender care that we can’t always see. And every 12 months we get to remember that incredible day and every moment with you since then – and celebrate its anniversary.
Whatever the reasons are that make you feel a little down about getting older, my friend, just know that every moment people get to spend with you is truly a blessing – one that they would not want to miss for anything. And without getting older by the second, the hour, month or year …without experiencing the “time” that ages us, you’d be taking something very special away from everyone you love and all of those who love you. Can you imagine removing even one full year from your life? Think of the people who may not have met you, not gotten a chance to know you, the impact on family and friends, or the unseen duties you accomplished for God that would have gone undone without you. No one could wish you were younger because the time they have spent with you is too precious to let go. We count every year of your life as a blessing.
I hope that you will feel the happiness that is associated with your birthday and embrace your age, all the years and all the wonders of your life. I pray that you will enjoy this next year of life with great expectations and confident hope; seeing along the way – everyday – how much every moment of your life that passes by means to you and to your family and friends. I think that the next 12 months could be the best year of your life (yet). And maybe this time next year, you’ll look back and say, Wow – that was really great!
You are a terrific person, my friend, and I’m really glad that God has put you in my life.
Happy Happy Birthday!
