“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.”
And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you.
Psalm 39:4-5,7 (NLT)
Yesterday was my birthday. In my family, birthdays have always been a big deal. All of my immediate family had called before 8:20 AM to sing or wish me, “Happy Birthday.”
And that was just the beginning of a great day: coffee with a good friend, delightful presents from kids and hubby, and dinner last night with several neighbors at a favorite Italian restaurant. One of the guys asked me how old I was and I told him…no shame or embarrassment on my part. I’m happy to be here.
Social networking has added a whole new layer of communication in our world and that goes for birthdays, too. Over the course of the day, one after another posts from friends all over the country showed up on my Facebook page sending their best wishes, even lasting well into the evening. Works for me because I really prefer “Birthday Week.” Just ask Mark.
Before drifting off to sleep, I thanked my Heavenly Father for those I am blessed to call family and friends. This morning I got up and looked at all the birthday cards lined up on the bar between the kitchen and great room. They are tangible witnesses that I am loved and I’m so grateful.
My life is just the width of my hand in God’s timeline and each day is a gift. Knowing that my hope is in Him is the best birthday present of all.