November 30, 2012 by Erin

Celebrating Life

Wednesday was my birthday, and I have to tell you, I love my birthday. I usually start announcing its approach some time in early November, slyly (or not so slyly) slipping it into conversations with friends and coworkers. My family needs no reminder – my three-year-old self made sure November 28 was permanently drilled into their heads as one of the most important dates on the calendar. Let’s just say I’ve never had a birthday pass unnoticed.

It sounds selfish, but the truth is, I love being celebrated. Luckily I have people around me who are really good at making me feel loved and valued. I also have a Heavenly Father who calls me His treasured one, and I’m learning more every day to live in the security of knowing He enjoys who I am. I think I saw in a new way this year that reveling in that is exactly what I should do.

Being alive is something I take for granted most of the time, but when I stop and think of the absolute hilarity of the fact that I exist, I can barely contain myself. And this November 28, I was reminded just how overjoyed I am to have received the gift of life. What a God we have, who fills our lungs and ignites our minds. It’s incredible, isn’t it? I’m so glad to be alive, and not only that, Jesus is glad I’m alive. I think that is worth celebrating.

*By the way, the picture isn’t of me—it’s my niece Charlotte on her first birthday. What says “I’m glad to be alive” like a baby covered in cake?

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Written with: a growling stomach and consequently shaky hands, Over the Rhine’s excellent Christmas album