My Happy Birthday Blog.. Made it another day

What is the meaning behind the term Happy Birthday? For many people it is a day of celebration, a day to reminisce over past days and to be hopeful that if you live long enough you will be blessed with the opportunity to experience more. It is a celebratory day where we (the recipients) will rejoice in the decision that our parents made years ago. I believe wishing someone a happy birthday is one of the greatest human gestures that an individual can bestow upon another. It is a phrase that says “I acknowledge that you are here and I celebrate your years of existence, even though it was not your choice to enter the world, you have made a conscious or unconscious choice everyday to continue living, and for that my existence has been greatly influenced by your presence.” This form of social acknowledgement is one of the highest praises we can give. It is the closest thing we can do in our imperfect bodies that mirrors Godliness.

Today is my birthday, and I have to say that I am truly pleased with the well wishes that I have received. On days like these I am taken back to the greatest birthday present I ever received in my adulthood from a friend. Let me share.

It happened about fifteen years ago when a friend of mine called me at work and told me that she had forgotten something over my house the night before. I told her that she was welcome to come by and pick it up when I got off from work. She refused my offer and said that she would just come by my job and get the keys because she needed this item right away. She did and when she arrived at my job, she told me that she would just wait for me at my place until I got off. I told her that would be fine even though I was a little curious because this new behavior of hers was out of the ordinary. Well when I got home from work she had cleaned my place, cooked dinner, baked a cake and invited all of my friends over. I was overcome with emotion when I heard “Happy Birthday!!!” from my friends as I walked through the door.  

This birthday gift set the standard for every birthday I would have in the future. I believe that there is only handful of people in the world that you will ever meet; that will take a vested interest in your life. Although your interaction with them may be brief the connection will last forever. Today is my birthday and today I would like to share it with everyone that thought enough to appreciate my existence. I would like to extend my heart in gratitude with a simple “ty”.  

My Early Birthday Gift

                Yesterday something unexpected, beautiful and ground shaking happened to me. I was lying on the couch going over some paperwork, when my mother called. I have not spoken to her in over 2 weeks (I know shame on me) and this was one of those check-up calls that we give each other from time to time. After a few minutes of exchanging niceties my mother asked “Do you know what I have been doing this morning?” “No” I responded wandering where was this leading question going. “I have been up this morning reading your book; you know the book you wrote several years ago?” “Yes, I am familiar with it”. (Several years ago I self published a book that chronicled my journey from sin to redemption. I sold about 75 copies) She went on to ask me if it was okay for her to read a loud one of the spiritual passages that I wrote. I told her that would be fine.

My mother began to read my poem as if the words belonged to her and not her only surviving son. After she had read the last line, she stopped and asked me “That was beautiful and sad, David. You know this book never got the credit it deserved, but one day you will receive your credits in heaven”. I was left speechless, knowing that that the words I wrote many years ago on loose pieces of toilet paper in a bathroom stall was resurrected.