I’m not even going to write a fancy-pants introduction to this blog.
As long as I have been old enough to understand what a birthday is, I’ve always loved the week leading up to my birthday. Excitement would build with each day. “I wonder what kind of gifts I’ll get!” “I wonder what kind of cake we will have!” Sitting through state testing at school or a wedding rehearsal never lessened the excitement and joy in my heart. “Pretty soon, my birthday will be here!”
Birthdays, for me, are filled with joy because they are a clear reminder of how deeply the people in your life love you. I’m not the kind of person who makes a big deal about herself. I prefer staying in the background than running to the limelight. Even so, there is still a deep desire in my heart to be seen, to be acknowledged, to be loved.
Enter birthdays.
I feel most loved when people speak words of affirmation to me, spend time with me, and/or give gifts to me. A simple, “Happy birthday!” from a waitress when she sees that I am wearing a birthday sash really means, “I see you, and your birthday is important! You are worth celebrating!” in my heart. Family and friends gathered to celebrate with cake, ice cream, stories, and laughter tells my heart, “I am choosing to spend time with you. You are a priority to me!” A well thought-out gift or card reminds my heart, “You are unique. I thought of you because you matter to me.”
One thing that I have recently started loving as part of my birthday celebration is spending time alone in prayer. I thank God for all that He has done and blessed me with in the past year. I look forward with excitement to the year ahead of me. When I turn another year older on Saturday (May 2, if you were thinking of buying a gift for me, hint hint), I will be thanking my Heavenly Father for dreams that I have been dreaming for most of my life coming true. I will be going into adventures that my heart and mind can’t even fathom. It won’t always be an easy year, but that’s okay. I get the amazing privilege of traveling the world, telling people about Jesus. I mean, COME ON!! The gifts that Jesus has given me–and will give me in the future–have prepared me for this exact opportunity. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)
He has given me love, so I can love others as He loved me.
He has given me joy, so I can give a smile to someone who lost theirs.
He has given me hope, so I can remind the downtrodden that all is not lost.
He has given me comfort, so I can wrap my arms around the hurting.
He has given me wisdom, so I can offer advice to someone who is confused.
He has given me His life, so I can share with others that our God saves from sin.
I believe that the God I serve is the God of “immeasurably more.” I’m believing Him for more than I even know how to ask for! By this time next year, I will have almost completed the World Race. I can’t even begin to imagine the many things that I will be thanking God for! My birthday next year will look different than I’m used to–for one, I won’t be able to use birthday coupon after birthday coupon at different restaurants for a whole week–but I am sure that it will be a birthday I never forget. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a birthday to prepare for.
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If you want to support me financially as a birthday gift, please email me at:
. I still have some things to purchase for this journey, and would prefer donations to go towards those items instead of my general financial goal for this trip. Thanks for understanding!
