We Aren’t Looking For a Party; We Are a Party, Just Looking For a Place to Land

Today is my granddaughter’s 17th birthday and, YIKES, she has her own big plans for this day with her friends after church! What happened to a carefully, meticulously, planned party with party favors, a theme-decorated cake, ice cream, and party games, and lots of guests showing up at their house for the party-of-the-year? This year, unlike any year before, she wanted her three closest girlfriends to have their own agenda. We understand that our girl IS the party and she’s sharing it with her besties.

Yesterday, on her birthday eve, was our “family” day of partying. For breakfast, we enjoyed her requests: huevos rancheros, chocolate gravy, biscuits, and bacon! My daughter has perfected the huevos rancheros and Denise has perfected the chocolate gravy. Then she opened her gifts, that were pre-empted by Buddy (their Australian Shepherd) who chased balloons around, barked, jumped up, and popped them. The party was followed by a trip to the Frisco Mercantile to find records for her new record player (from her brother). They chose two of Frank Sinatra’s albums. Gotta’ love those kids that know good music when they hear it! ;-)

Then it was on to her favorite annual tradition location for lunch: Mariposa’s in Neiman Marcus for their yummy chicken broth, egg popovers, and strawberry butter. We couldn’t leave Neiman’s without our photo opts with the mannequins (another annual tradition – with our perfect dates). None of our dates spoke a word to us, but we could talk as much as we wanted without any resistance or interference. LOL!

I look for the “God” messages in the every-day, ordinary of living for my blogs and posts. I’m pretty sure He shows us some of the most memorable times we can have are those centered on the laughter, the traditions, the “You are Special” plate, and the joy and memories we share together in silly little ways. Alexia is our on-site comedian so laughter is a huge benefit of partying with her. When she was getting ready to open the gift from her mom and dad, her mom said, “This is something that I’ve waited a while to give you until you were ready!” Alexia exclaimed, “So, it's a training bra?” Oh, me! Such is life with Lexi. The gift was a beautiful triangle, diamond pendant, and gold necklace. She beamed with excitement and asked, "Is it real gold because I never want to take it off?” It is.

This year changed from other years at Mariposa’s because, rather than a group of women mentors who typically join in for this occasion, Alexia chose her brother and her dad to join us. She wanted those of us who are her mainstay, her armor bearers, her greatest cheerleaders and her sounding boards to be her birthday participants. I love that. There are special friends who are dear to us, but there is nothing like those people that you count on at a moment’s notice, who love you unconditionally and are your rocks when others show up “just for the party”. We are her “lifers” because she knows we are the ones who pray daily for her and who believe God’s best for her.

Yesterday, I realized that “besties” are those who bring the party with them wherever they go. They laugh at your jokes that just maybe aren’t that funny; they listen to that story that you’ve told several times before; they tell you, you look good in spite of the crumbs on your face or stains on your shirt. They are your lifers. I tend to think that we are a lot like Jesus. In Jesus Christ, life is a party. In fact, He joins us at celebrations. He had many occasions where He showed up to party. He performed His first miracle by turning water into wine. He healed and raised people from the dead. At the parties he was at, He provided the food (loaves and fishes) AND the entertainment – He gave them keys to success. Just think of it, as His brothers and sisters, we will continue to party together with Him for all of eternity. But, in the meantime, because He lives in us, the party continues. This day Jesus is asking us all to trust Him and do as He says: “Love, give, be kind, share, be joyful, encourage, and be full of excitement for each day that He holds. He has a party in store for those of us who look for it. We can always live in the joy of Christ. May we always have the courage to celebrate and party in the good times and the tough times, and may we be the “party animals” that carry His love and give out His love wherever we go.

Birthdays Really Matter

I’m heading back home today after several days of celebrating my son’s birthday. I brought Payton and Alexia (my daughter’s two) with me to Austin and yesterday Larry and Staci drove down after having just returned from a missions trip to Mexico the night before. Our family is BIG on birthdays, and while it may sound child-like to make such a big deal about birthdays, it really shouldn’t, because birthdays mean we made it through another year, and we're still here for a reason. That should be a BIG DEAL to us!

Yesterday I heard a lady say “I’m not having any more birthdays. In fact, I don’t even know how old I am anymore.” And I quickly replied, “Goodness gracious, I'm thrilled to celebrate my birthday. It means I made it through another year." I heard Christine Caine's remarks about birthdays. She said, "The older we get, we downplay having another birthday. We don't want any 'big deals' or ANY attention given to us having another birthday. How silly it is to throw a gigantic, blow-out of a birthday for a one-year old. What has a one year old done to deserve that birthday? Those who have been here for half a century and more are the ones to be celebrated. For goodness sakes, every year that we're still here, we deserve fireworks, celebrations, recognition and tributes..... because we EARNED this birthday and every other birthday! We made it another year."

Let’s be clear – it’s not as much about the presents, as it is of the PRESENCE of those who love us and make us feel…..”I am special”.
Here’s the real crux of the matter: You may not have had the ideal family life or have the perfect body OR be the “sharpest tool in the shed”, but you always were and always will be a treasure, and on your birthday, you get to rock that truth.

Birthdays say, “You’re special!” That’s what we do with the red “special plate” where we go around and share why “the birthday boy or girl or man or woman” is special to us. Birthdays say, “Hey, you, you’re great! I’m so glad you’re in my life.” And that’s why birthdays are a big deal – because birthdays represent our God-given mission and destiny and every year that we’re here, we get to celebrate our journey.

And with each year.....we have the opportunity to celebrate -- not for just THE day, but EACH day that God gives us. Celebrating it with a merry heart, a glad heart, a thankful heart, a forgiving heart, a heart open to the abundance of God's love and bringing forth fruit, being vigorous and flourishing.

I have a dear friend who doesn't wait for someone to throw her a party. She throws a birthday bash for herself, and she invites us all to join her for her BIG DAY. I love that. She knows she is special to us AND God, so, of course, we celebrate her.

So, today, whether you or 6 or 60 or 96.....you are to be celebrated. You're still bearing fruit. You're still here....you're not done!