Birthdays

Wow...I just realized that I haven't blogged in almost ten days. My job just sucks up so much of my time and energy. I know I've said this before, but I'll say it again: How do parents do it? How on Earth do they find the time for God, their work, their children, each other, their own parents, their friends, and themselves? I can't even imagine the life of a single parent.

Ay Carumba.

But enough of me whining. The title of this blog is set off by an upcoming birthday. Tomorrow is T's birthday. T is a wonderful and energetic little girl who has a sister whom I will call B. B's birthday was last Saturday. B is also very young, but she is very contemplative and mature for a girl her age. She's not overly precocious, but sometimes she'll say something very profound and while you scratch your head trying to interpret the meaning of what she just said, she runs away giggling or she returns to colouring within the lines of her Hello Kitty picture.

What's special about B's birthday is actually how B reacts to it. B hates her birthday. Why? Why wouldn't a little girl rejoice in her big day, even as her parents, little sister, and friends shower her with love and presents?

B is adopted. At the orphanage, the doctors say one date, but her nurse or caretaker remembers another date. Nobody really knows because her birth parents didn't leave any information about her at all, unlike a few of the other kids at the orphanage. I don't know how common it is for an orphan to not know his or her birthday, but when I heard that B hates her birthday because she doesn't know her actual birthday and even sort of dreads it, I became very sad for her.

Then today, while I was reading the Bible as I prepared for my Bible Adventures class, I came across one of my favourite passages:

Psalm 139:13-14 (New International Version)

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

This passage always sends shivers down my back when I think of how intricately I was thought out by God and that He looked at me and said, "Yup, she's just the way I like her to be. She's ready for the world and I will prepare the world to be ready for her."

When I look at B, I see how beautiful and smart she is. I hope she can see that for herself. Her generosity, courage, and determined spirit more than make up for a lack of a technical date of her birth.

For you, the reader, I hope that you appreciate your birthday. Not just with cake or booze or presents or spa treatments. But, to appreciate that this is the day that the Lord has made you and for all the people who love and cherish you.

I thank God for you.

Happy Belated Birthday, B. Happy Early Birthday, T.