Happy Birthday, Aaron!

A well remembered song begins “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, brown paper packages tied up with strings these are a few of my favorite things.” The chorus continues a bit later in the tune, “When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad.” For me, the birthdays of my family are like that! They are “my favorite things.” I have heard of some well-meaning, although misguided people who have tried to attach the celebration of birthdays to every kind of pagan practice. Some have even gone so far as to say the Bible condemns the celebration of one’s birthday. So, as I remember that day 31 years ago when our youngest son, Aaron was born, I am prompted to be more specific. First, the example of Scripture: There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. (Job 1:1-4 ESV). Job was the most righteous man of his day. His children were certainly trained in the same faith he possessed. They celebrated each other’s birthday with a feast. Yes, there are some who remind us that after each celebration Job would go and offer a sacrifice in the chance that his children “might” have sinned in their heart. However, I am prompted to ask, is there any of our children who have not sinned; are there any of us, who are parents, that have not sinned? Silly question, isn’t it? The great grace of God in Christ deals with problem more than sufficiently! So, we then ask, why not celebrate? A birthday represents so many blessings to the believer. As I walk through this day, Aaron’s birthday, I am reminded of the blessing he has been in our lives. I recall the victories, the defeats, the challenges, all of those experiences unique to him in the family circle. When I do that, my past fades to the present moment of joy fulfilled in the blessing of abundant life Christ has secured for us. When I do that, the fear of the future simply cannot hold any power over me. Isn’t that worth a celebration? The ultimate victory over death and hell has been secured through Christ. Eternity blooms in the distance promising an indescribable forever future. Happy Birthday Aaron! Thanks for the reminder of this glorious gift from our God! Hope you have a chocolate cake… just be careful with all the candles on top!