Birthday
Psa 2:7 Let me tell you what GOD said next. He said, "You're my son, And today is your 
birthday.  
Psa 2:8 What do you want? Name it: Nations as a present? continents as a prize?  
Psa 2:9 You can command them all to dance for you, Or throw them out with tomorrow's 
trash."  
 
     The event of the birthday. That day that honors with gladness the anniversary of 
someone's birth. The day in which friends and family are given the opportunity to give 
gifts, cards and party, celebrating the life that has been lived so far, and encouraging that 
many more years be added to it.  
     In our family, the birthday is also an event that isn't just confined to a specific 
calendar date. This is a day that is alive and well in its impact many months before and 
often for weeks and months following. Our youngest will be nine next week, but 
according to him, he was nine some time ago. When asked his age this would be his reply 
as somehow the few days remaining were insignificant. I'm not sure when exactly this 
minor technicality kicks in, but for him the anticipation of the birthday at some point 
makes real and perfectly legal the declaration of his advanced age.  
      Our daughter, on the other hand, has a birthday that falls on Christmas day. It is very 
rare that we "adequately" celebrate her birthday on the day it really occurs. It's hard to 
get all her friends together due to the holiday, so we frequently postpone the party part 
of the birthday to some time later when it is more convenient. While it may be a bit 
frustrating for her on Christmas day, it must also be a bit enjoyable to stretch her 
birthday out so far.  
     Whenever it is actually celebrated, there is something about this wonderful day in 
which the birthday boy or girl (who has just managed to keep breathing for yet another 
year) is made to be the person of honor and given reason to feel special for at least a day. 
There is something potentially uplifting and positive about this and quite often there is 
an obvious, measurable optimism in his or her demeanor as the whole outlook on life is 
effected. There is a colorful individual with whom I've worked who would show up on 
every payday Friday letting everyone know that it was his "birthday", with a sheepish 
grin on his face. He would put on an aire of being expectant and thrilled that this was 
again his special day. Out of every day of the year, there is by far the most consistent 
anticipation given to the arrival of the birthday. While there is great hope for the gifts 
and attention that might be received, there is also the potential for disappointment if the 
slightest disrespect is given or if loss of memory causes there to be no recognition of its 
occurrence at all. Where there are true friends and family, though, this disappointment 
will not be possible as the birthday's true purpose is fulfilled in an uplifting celebration.  
     "Today is your birthday." What an awesome way to let us know just how special we 
are in God's plans and in His provision. And, I believe that the family of God is like my 
earthly family in that there is a great extension in the celebration of this day. It's like my 
friend's Friday birthdays, they just keep showing up. I believe that in God this "birthday" 
is every day, with an infinite expectation of what is coming tomorrow and an ever 
increasingly uplifted demeanor because of the assurance that our lives will be celebrated 
yet again tomorrow by the greatest Gift Giver ever. And, we don't just have to wonder 
what the surprise will be at tomorrow's celebration. We can actually determine exactly 
what some of the gifts will be by just asking specifically for what we want. This isn't 
limited to just budget constrained action figures and small items either. God goes to the 
extreme and even suggests whole nations and continents, something that I personally 
have never really included on my present wish list. But God is without limits in His 
ability to provide and He will be faithful tomorrow in a way that even surpasses today. 
     For every day that we awaken, there is something that is true no matter what the 
circumstances look like around us. It's our birthday! There is a reason to be encouraged 
and energized. There will be no disappointment in this day either, because He has 
promised, and He never allows a promise to go unfulfilled. This day should be fully 
appreciated and enjoyed with great anticipation for what will come tomorrow and the 
day after tomorrow. And, there is plenty of room on the Father's gift list for those things 
that only need to be requested. There should be an ever-present smile of confident self 
assurance coming from our personal relationship with this One that has chosen to make 
our whole life a celebration of our birth into His family. 
8/18/05