Birthdays. Cost Or Benefit?

25 Apr

“Do not dwell on how old you are but how much you have achieved and how much you can achieve with the time you have left in this world.” ~ Unknown

Birthdays appear to come in two “sizes”: cost or benefit. For many, birthdays come at a cost. You may as well break out the black candles and black clothes and mourn as people look at the advancement of another year as something tragic. To them, another year just means one step closer to the grave. There is no hope in their eyes and no joy in their faces. There is only sadness and gloom.

Others see birthdays as a benefit. They have been blessed with another year, another opportunity, another reason to celebrate life and love and the special relationships that they have made through the years. They see their birthday as a means to reflect upon all that has taken place earlier in their lives so that they can plan what lies ahead. To them, birthdays are joy-filled, positive events.

Thus far in my life — and I will be 62 at the end of October — I have never hit that “birthday wall” where the day is depressing and there is nothing left in my life. I have had friends who have hit that wall, though. Some of them have hit it as early as 30. I never could understand that. How can one not be appreciative of the years that God has given and look forward to the years that remain?

Look back on your life today. Acknowledge the many blessings that God has given to you along the way and try to peer into your future. What does it look like to you? For what do you hope? What plans do you have? Make sure to give God thanks and praise for all that He has done for you. God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

FAITH ACTION:  Pray for those who find birthdays troublesome, that they might find joy in the gift of another year given to them by God.