Today is my birthday and I celebrate YOU!

Today is my birthday.  I am not shouting that out to receive well wishes or gifts. But, it is a statement of gratitude. I can still remember being in my 20’s, suffering with chronic hepatitis, later being diagnosed with a liver that was slowing burning out. I was very afraid. I had one young son and was afraid that I would not see him grow up. But, in a month, he will be 29, and I was blessed to have another who is now 25.

Silently and without fanfare the disease went into a back closet, I began to feel well, and tests reflected the remission. What once was a Dr. telling me that he suspected my liver would burn out in 3-5 years, has become many more years of life…27 more years to be exact! In the end, for each of us, God is the author of our days, isn’t He?

So, while some are distressed about getting older, I am humbled by it as the years go by. Thankful for the time, my family, friends, and love. Thankful for the opportunity to look for God in all things and learn about him more and more. Thankful for the gift of being his instrument, as the Bible says we are. Thankful for purpose in the mundane, purpose in loving others, and purpose in spiritual growth. And, yes thankful for even lessons learned in all my dumb mistakes!

But, I have not always been thankful on my birthdays. I used to get wierd, dysfunctional, and disappointed. Many women tell me they can relate to that. But about 5 years ago, that turned around. God led me to think of others on “my day”. I planned a luncheon with my friends and carefully selected gifts for “them”. What a joy it was to celebrate them as a reflection of celebrating my own life. That turned everything around for me. What a lesson.

Today, I celebrate.

I celebrate you, dear friends…

• Some of you are my family, past and present…Oh, I want you to know I love you deeply and always.
• Some of you are personal friends…I want you to know I could not imagine life without you.
• Some of publishing friends…I am grateful for you and the opportunities you have opened for me to glorify God and bring women closer to Him.
• Some are friend from my church Cornerstone Fellowship in Livermore, CA… what a joy to share in church community together!
• Some are new friends from retreats and speaking engagements, some are old friends from Orange County, L.A. or Bakersfield.
• Some of you are even friends who have met me through reading my books.

But, one thing for sure…your lives have touched mine, and I love you.

These days I start my “new year” with a theme, a verse to process and hold on to. I would like to share this year’s with you:

From the Message

Psalm 33

“From where he sits he overlooks all us earth-dwellers. He has shaped each person in turn, now he watches everything we do. Watch this. God’s eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love. He’s ready to come to their rescue in bad times, in lean times he keeps body and soul together. We’re depending on GOD; he’s everything we need. What’s more, our hearts brim with joy since we’ve taken for our own his holy name. Love us, GOD, with all  you’ve got, that’s what we’re depending on.”