IN HONOR OF YOUR BIRTHDAY

My husband and I have been privileged to meet so many lovely people.   We have friends from age 3 to 103.   I’ve learned, listened, and loved all of them for a variety of reasons.   Some are single, some are married, some are divorced, some are widows and widowers, and all of them are precious souls in which God has allowed our paths in life to intertwine.  I’ve been richer for the treasure they have brought to my life.   Some are here on earth and some are alive and in heaven with Jesus.

One such friend, though now enjoying the pleasures and joy of being with the Lord, brought so much richness of laughter and the beautiful qualities of a Godly character into our lives.  We had known this man for a number of years.  Some years prior to our friendship, he had been married to his sweetheart for many years.  Whenever he referred to her in conversation, it was always with gracious delight.   He was now a widower and learning to walk through his days alone without her.

While having him in our home, he seemed to bring such a refreshing joy to us.   It was discovered one day over morning tea that he had a birthday coming up.   It would be the celebration of 80 wonderful years.  

One quality about this man was his tender disposition and childlike joy.   We would laugh about almost anything.   He was the type of person with whom you could discuss “oatmeal” and be bursting at the seams with laughter about its consistency.   Together we often saw the funny side of things. 

In my discovery of his birthday an idea was planted in my heart to have a birthday dinner party in his honor.   About eight other friends were all notified of the upcoming event.   We had phoned our friend to invite him and his new “significant other” lady friend for dinner.  That was the plan, at least that’s what he thought.

He was turning 80 and had no need of gifts.  But the Lord brought to my mind that there was one gift that would be especially appropriate.   That gift was ENCOURAGEMENT.

Now how do you wrap and present a gift like that?  I’d been to many birthday parties and they all consisted of food, gifts and an occasional balloon.   It took a few days for this surprise party to marinate in my thinking.  How were we all to encourage him?

If you’re anything like me, if someone compliments me or makes an encouraging comment to me, within five seconds or less, I can’t remember one word they spoke.   Oh I wish I could, but it seems that the airways glean all the goodness of their positive comment.

Then it came to me!   If we each bought a card and wrote all the wonderful things we’d like to say to him, ways he had encouraged us and built positive qualities into our life along with things we appreciated and loved about him…..that seemed like a wonderful and creative way to show love to him.

I phoned each of his friends and shared this idea of a BIRTHDAY “encouragement” PARTY.  They all readily agreed.   The agreement was that our friend would come over for dinner, and at a pre-arranged time and about 45 minutes after we began having dinner, all of his friends would keep showing up at the front door.

They were to bring their “written gift” and later, after cake and ice cream, each of us were going to “read aloud” our card to him.  In the background, I had a tape recorder on to record the occasion.

The evening was filled with surprises, laughter and tears….tears of joy and appreciation.  It was an evening I doubt that any of us would forget.  I know our guest of honor wouldn’t as we gifted him with a tape of the party, and the recording of each of his friends’ comments of appreciation for his life.

The following morning our “Birthday Celebrant” phoned to tell me that this 80th birthday party was the first birthday party he had ever had in “his honor;” and he remarked that it was the most meaningful evening of his life.

This event marked my heart forever with the realization that regardless of our age, we all need to know that we’re special…..special to someone.   I don’t know about your experiences with encouragement.  Maybe it hasn’t been on your radar screen.   But it seems many times that funerals hold the key to unlocking our “verbal values” of others.   I feel that it is so sad, because the one who needs to hear our heart’s appreciation and admiration is no longer able to listen.

I know many of us weren’t raised with verbal comments like, I love you, you’re special to me, and you’ve enriched my life in many ways….and on and on.   Sometimes we may have been raised in a culture where any verbal expression of love was seldom if ever vocalized. 

Each day is precious!   Each day you meet with a friend or chat with them on the phone is a moment in time that can never be repeated. 

Through some precious experiences over the last 20 years, I have learned the value and joy of telling others that I love them.   I’m not mushy, or do I drip all over people, but often at the end of every conversation with those I love, I tell them so.   Plainly, I love you!

Each day is a GIFT….that’s why it is called the PRESENT.

Oh may we consider “gifting others” with our verbal encouragement on a regular basis.