Birthday Paranoia Cured

I celebrated another birthday last week. I never liked birthdays. When I was young, my birthday was always the occasion for someone else to have fun. On the first birthday I remember, my aunt stood me in front of the TV where some dumb looking clown called out my name, including middle name, in the birthday list. Everyone in the family laughed – except me. Middle name on TV! How embarrassing! One year my birthday party was a trip to the stables and horseback riding. Everyone had fun but me. I had never ridden a horse before, have not ridden one since, and unless there are horses in heaven, I will never ride another one. Another year my birthday party was at Playland Park, the forerunner of AstroWorld in southwest Houston. We ate Hot Dogs and rode the Ferris Wheel. I left my Hot Dog somewhere on the sharp down-hill turn. As to ever riding another Ferris Wheel, see my comment above on horses. So, out of Birthday paranoia, I always insisted that my birthday be low key with no parties. In fact, my favorite way to spend my birthday is with family, in a quiet restaurant that offers a free meal on one’s birthday. That was my story – until last week. Thanks to Facebook, I received 184 birthday greetings. Some brought laughter, others brought memory tears. So, I repent. Even birthdays are days that “the Lord has made . . . We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24). OK, now I feel better.

Join me in remembering the following global prayer concerns:
• Pray for Stephen as he conducts storying training for those working in East and South Asia.
• Continue to pray for Martha’s (Spain) mother as the insurance money for hospital care is running out.
• Pray for the Ukrainian presidential elections in January.
• Pray for those who celebrate Orthodox Christmas on Jan. 7 and worship on that day.