Back in my early 30's, this often resulted in a time of depression for me (well, more often than not, really). I saw myself going nowhere in my life -- barely getting by financially, dead end job, little social life and no romance. Year after year, I reflected on a past year of no accomplishment and looked forward to a year of little prospect. I pretty much dreaded January and just held on until Ash Wednesday, when (oddly enough) I somehow felt was really a fresh start.
Strange how our outlook changes over time. Again in my life I have been alone for many years. There is minimal expectation of advancement at work and my finances are something I would rather not think about. But my perspective on life is vastly different. As I approached the turning of the year (both on the universal calendar and my own), I have been excited. I can count at least half a dozen people I know today as friends that I hadn't even met a year ago. There are also as many friends (if not more) that I am closer to today than I was last year. I look forward to another year of friendships and sharing my faith, hope and love with the people that God has put in my life.
Even in the dark days of dreading the onset of a new year, I never gave up celebrating my birthday and always welcomed the good wishes that came my way. I don't know if you have seen it, but I know several people who do not celebrate their own birthdays at all. I don't mean those who deny that they have had as many birthdays as they actually have -- the ones who are perpetually 29. No, these people (sadly enough, mostly women) not only do not acknowledge their age, but deny the option to age because they deny that there was a date in history when they were born - and they get mad (or at least disgruntled) if anyone else mentions such a possibility.
I find this so sad. We have come to a place in our culture where we worship youth to such an extent that people try (vainly) to stay forever young by never having a birthday. They miss out on the primary reason that we celebrate birthdays. We don't celebrate because of the number (think how odd it would sound if we celebrated Christmas by saying, "Happy two thousand fourteenth birthday Jesus!"). We celebrate birthdays as a recognition that the person having the birthday is valued simply for the fact that they ARE. Any other time that you are celebrated, your are celebrated for what you have done (graduation, promotion, championship, etc.). On your birthday, we celebrate you just because God thought that you would be a very good idea -- and we think so too! That is worth celebrating no matter your age, income, marital status, health, productivity, or any thing else that may be seen as worth while to others.
I am worth celebrating -- Happy Birthday to me!
