On My Birthday, I Have So Much to Be Thankful For

Hidden Nuggets #31 – “Oh that men would give thanks to the Lord for his goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” – Psalm 107:8

“I remember like it was only yesterday when you were born…”

Some time today, I’ll get a phone call from my mom who will start the conversation with the above sentence. She usually does call to say “Happy Birthday”, so I’m not expecting this year to be any different. Mom, if you are reading this, I’m waiting.

I don’t know how you feel when that annual day comes around. Some are more unique than others I suppose. Last year was a big one for me. Now, I’m just treading water again, slowly inching upwards for nine years to the next important milestone.

I do reflect a little on my birthday to see where I’ve been and how I’ve grown in the last year. I also project, thinking about what lies ahead in the months down the road. However, the biggest thing I do every year is spend a few moments in silent reflection thanking God for all the blessings He has poured out on my life.

Things to Be Thankful For

Nothing I have done makes me deserve what God has given me. But I’ll take it. When I look back I’m amazed He has blessed me with the opportunity to…

Have a relationship with and serve Him daily.

Marry a beautiful woman, who daily steps in to affirm, support and encourage me;

Bring four awesome kids into the world who make me smile and laugh everyday;

Have a stable career at an organization that has been very generous and provided me with the financial resources to raise a family;

Impact hundreds of students and families over the course of my tenure in education;

Enjoy close fellowship and experience the love of a church congregation;

Travel to places I never thought I’d go;

Be physically fit and enjoy the activities (like marathons) that good health allows me to experience;

Put thoughts together in writing for this blog and interact with so many great people online;

And the list goes on and on.

I can’t project into the future and see where my course is headed. Hopefully, I’ve been granted my grandfather’s centenarian genetics and will be able to see the year 2073. Whatever God has planned for me, this one thing I know…I have many things to be thankful for and I’ll continue to thank Him for each one every day I’m given to live.

Life is a precious gift and we should live each day to its fullest potential.

Questions: What things to be thankful for do you have today? Are you ever just amazed at the things you’ve been able to accomplish in life? Based on the clues I dropped in this post, how old am I turning today?

Image at Wikimedia Commons

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