Today is my birthday. My wife fixed a special breakfast. When we sat down to eat, she said happy birthday, though I am sure you are not that excited to be 87. So, I thought I’d ask AI this question:
What’s in a birthday?
Somewhat to my surprise the first ten items that showed up in answer to my question were all about the best alcoholic drink for birthday celebrating. Of all the suggestions, the only one that sounded like it might be tempting was this one: “Fill a large bowl with a combination of fruit juices like orange, pineapple, and cranberry, add to the mix a bottle of sparkling wine or champagne for effervescence.
But really! The best that AI came up with was a means to mellow the celebrant. One must wonder about the humans behind the AI. Is life so unenchanting that a mile marker like one’s birthday is to be celebrated by dulling one’s remembrance?
Now the second page of suggestions has proved to be an improvement. For example, 15 birthday desserts (not cake) and 64 birthday ideas to celebrate in new, fun ways. Hey, here was a good one: “50 things to do on your birthday when you’re out of ideas. One offer seems to have more creativity.
I decided to ask a search engine, “What does the Bible say about birthdays? This search provided several interesting responses.
One response was a list of nine verses from which the author extrapolated birthday messages. The one that caught my attention was Proverbs 9:11: “For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.” While the idea of birthday is not in the text, the idea that living by biblical wisdom ensures (within the parameters of God’s allotted days for each of us), more years which means more birthdays and therefore more opportunities to glorify God and enjoy Him, fellowship with the Almighty.
In Genesis 5 there is a recurring phrase in genealogy from Adam to Noah “and he died.” This refrain (e.g., Genesis 5:5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 27, 31) indicates that God keeps track of our lives. “He knows my days” refers to the theological concept in Psalm 139:16 that God has intimate, pre-ordained knowledge of a person’s entire life span before they are even born. It signifies that every day, moment, and detail is recorded in God’s book, offering comfort that life is purposeful, not random.
So, if God is tracking our birthdays, it seems reasonable that we should track them. As I sat at this computer writing this morning, there have been several interruptions from those remembering my birthday. They are making my day memorable. Two greetings were from professional colleagues, four were from family. If it is a typical birthday day, all my grandchildren and my children will call sometime today. Actually, the fifth, a college student on his way to lunch, just called.
Most likely my wife will make the cherry cream pie that is my favorite and has long sincereplaced a cake for our dinner celebration. And on Sunday we will go out for lunch to celebrate again.
However, for me, celebrating is a daily matter and simply accumulates to a conclusion today only to start over tomorrow. That daily celebration is “This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it” and by the grace of God, invest it for Him in the people, projects, and pursuits He puts before me. I am so humbled and privileged to celebrate life, and my new life in Christ, and to do it joined to my sweet and godly bride and a family who all are walking with our Savior.
To God be the glory, great things He has done! And will do, “even so come quickly, Lord Jesus.