Some passing thoughts on birthdays
As I pause to pay tribute to this date in my personal history, I am reminded of many things that have taken place on January 16th, and many more that have not. Other than my being born on this date in 1953, I suppose the most profound thing to ever happen on this date was in 1991 when Operation Desert Storm was launched in honor of my birthday. Not everyone has a war start on their birthday although I have a sister-in-law who was born on December 7th. She wins.
As of a few years ago the other significant thing about this date was that it is the only day of the year with no recorded tornadoes in the United States. Now watch, there will probably be one in Wyoming or Alaska today.
When I think back over the years, most January 16th's came and went without fanfare and basically unnoticed. Those of us blessed with January birthdays never got the presents those born in the summer get. My parents always said they had no money for my birthday due to Christmas. Bah Humbug.
One of the few memorable birthdays I had was just two years ago. I had only been here at Christian Blog a few months, but had written so many blogs I guess I was already a bit notorious. Anyway, I had to make a trip the night before my birthday and I was very surprised the next morning to wake up and check my messages here and find 8 people had left me greetings. WOW, that is like 7 more than I usually get the whole day.
One of the reasons I stuck around this place, even when I messed up a week later and got terminated, was the outpouring of attention I received on my birthday from people I had never met and knew very little about me. It really had an impact on my life.
Honestly, I have spent most of my life dreading January 16th due to the many years of my birthday being forgotten by everyone, including my own parents. After a number of years a person begins to get a complex about a date and tries to avoid it. I don't dislike January 16th due to being older, but due to years of it being forgotten.
Already this year I have received a lovely gift (from a member here), an beautiful e-card with family pictures (from a member here) and three cards in the mail. I am truly thankful regardless of what may or may not happen the rest of the day. I am just grateful to have this avenue of sharing available to me whereby I can open my heart and not run and hide in the closet until the day is over.
So, for anyone crazy enough to read this self-serving blog THANK YOU for listening to me ramble on about a date that really has no importance to you. But, by being able to talk about it I feel better and am able to not let the inevitable quietness this day usually brings cause me to stumble or be anything other than joyful that God has allowed me another year to be alive to serve Him.
This past year was one of extreme personal highs and lows, but through it all God has blessed my life with YOU, some of my nearest and dearest friends I have. Regardless of how many physical procedures I went through or how many so-called friends headed for the hills; a few of you have hung in there and remained dearly beloved brothers and sisters no matter what. That is the greatest gift a person could ever receive on his birthday or any other day. Thank You.
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Author: blessings2you
Location: Warrenton Missouri USA
Gender: Male
Age: 57
Blog Entries: 827 (archive)
Blog Comments: 1357
god called me to serve him when i was 16 years old while on a church work trip in new mexico in 1969. in the 40 years since; i attended bible school/leadership training, been ordained to the christian ministry and worked full time for a non-denominational ministry for nearly ten...
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in 1969 god stepped in and transformed my life as a sixteen year old teenager. after a couple of years of intense emotional ups and downs, i decided i needed a firm foundation in my life that went beyond emotional experiences. it was the decision to become involved with a...
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