There are some birthdays I’ll never forgot. Last year, I got called off the lake and made a flying trip to the hospital because we weren’t sure my dad would make it. But he did and last month we rode the train at Silver Dollar City. On my 48th birthday I rode my bicycle 100 miles in 100 degree heat in Witchita Falls, Texas. Please go ahead and mark that off the bucket list. Been there, done that, never again. Then there was the birthday when my grandmother died. Because of that, today I’m celebrating my birthday around the world.
Today is my birthday. I don’t mind telling you I’m 54. Recently I had another big scare with my health and did some soul searching. You know what? I realized if I only live a few more years, I’m satisfied and content. Really it was life changing to face my own mortality and say, “No regrets.” Since then, I’ve settled into a comfortable peace with the Lord. I plan to stay the course and keep doing what I’m doing – writing words. Turns out, I’ve been doing that a long time.
Years before I was a writer, I wrote
Stuff like a tribute to my grandmother when she died on my birthday. Long before I knew anything about blogs, I wrote a blog post. Only I didn’t know it. Now if you search “grandmother died on birthday” or “relative died on my birthday” then my post is usually listed first. Honestly, my grandmother would kill me for sharing her picture around the world. Yes, around the world.
Seven times a day
2,000 times a year
96 countries
It’s the most evangelical post I ever wrote and I didn’t write it for public reading. I wrote it for my grandfather, who lived nine more days before he joined her in Heaven.
She hated having her picture taken, but maybe with an eternal perspective she won’t mind. People in places like Cambodia, Brunei, Japan, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Serbia, Macedonia, Bhutan, Slovenia, Saudia Arabia, United Arab Emerates, China and Pakistan read about our eternal home and how we get there. Her picture is shown in closed countries where Jesus is not known.
Surely she will forgive me if there are people from various tribes, tongues and nations spending eternity with their Savior because ….
My Grandmother Died on my Birthday
” Then young women will dance and be glad, young me and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.” Jeremiah 31:13 (NIV)
Happy birthday to me!
Another great blog and I am so glad that you do love to write and that you share your heart with us weekly.
Happy, Happy birthday to you and may God continue to bless you and use you to bless us. You are a true inspiration and bring much happiness and joy into the lives of so many around the world.
Love you big!!!! Keep on celebrating.