God wants joy and celebration to be part of our lives
May and June are a month in which we celebrate several birthdays in our family.
One of our grandsons celebrated his early in May. My son’s step-granddaughter’s was just a few days ago, my husband’s is next week. Our oldest grandson’s is a few days after Jeff’s and then mine is June 9. I have many friends whose birthdays are sandwiched in-between and around our birthdays, as well.
Someone recently said they don’t like to think about birthdays and holidays; to them every birthday and holiday that rolls around is just one more reminder of how old they are getting. Oftentimes, age, negative circumstances and familiarity and mundane habits of life can make us lose the joy of celebration. However, celebration is woven all through the pages of the Bible. Celebrations surround dates of things that are honorable and important to God and cement a time of remembrance to these things for us.
God intended joy and celebration to be an important part of our lives, as long as the festivities do not get out of hand, become self-indulgent or sinful. Joy and celebration with God at the center gives us a break from the ordinary, lifts our spirits, and directs our thoughts around the beauty and true meaning of our lives. Birthdays can even be a new starting point, like New Year’s resolutions.
I love to hear the variety of ways others spend their exceptional day. I always enjoyed providing my loved ones with their favorite meal whether home-cooked or at a restaurant — depending on our budget at the time. Cards, posters and cupcakes sent to work or school can brighten the day and invite others in to share in the festivities.
With people living on a shoestring budget there are thrifty ways to celebrate the day. A simple cake mix can whip up a birthday treat. A card passed to many family members for signatures and maybe a dollar or two can add up to a big surprise to the birthday recipient. Sometimes, small tokens of fun things such as a bottle of bubbles or bubble bath, a big balloon, or a funny homemade card can brighten someone’s celebration. You don’t have to spend a fortune to have a little fun, just let your creativity flow.
God gave each of us a birth date. As we celebrate our special dates, let us remember to offer up to God a prayer and praise for him for who he created us to be. Many blessings to my readers on their special day!
Ÿ Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, inspirational speaker, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted at Annetteebudzban@aol.com.