I’ve been fortunate in that birthdays have always been celebrated in my family. In my adult years I’ve often celebrated my birthday with friends by going somewhere together or eating together (often Mexican or a steak place), and I’ve also celebrated with co-workers. And I really look forward to the weekend after my birthday when I join my family to enjoy a home cooked meal made by mom. I knew this year would different, but I didn’t have any idea of just how much God cared about little things like a birthday.
To start with, more than a year ago, a husband and wife (Bonnie & Charles Eberle) that I barely knew from my home church in Richmond told me that they would be in Belize in March of 2008 and offered to stop by and visit me on their way home. Shucks, I figured that visitors would always be a treat, even if I didn’t know them. Sure enough, as time got closer, the arrangements were made and Bonnie and Charles arrived here on March 1st, the weekend before my birthday. On March 2nd Britney, Bobby and I took them sightseeing around El Salvador. And guess what? The place we went for lunch had fantastic steaks. I’m not talking about a good steak…I’m talking about a steak that awakens all of your senses and makes every morsel like a dream come true. I love a good steak and I’d never had a steak in this country that didn’t resemble shoe leather…but then again, I hadn’t gone to a nice restaurant. So, being quite unaware, the Ederle’s provided me with an early birthday dinner at a steak restaurant…very similar to what I would’ve enjoyed with friends at home on my birthday.
Then, on the day of my birthday, Sat March 8th, I was invited to a special birthday breakfast prepared by the other missionaries. We had biscuits and gravy, eggs, bacon, rolls, OJ and a birthday cake later that evening. Whew! (See photo) And they gave me amazing gifts that showed their creativity and love, yet without spending much money. This included a beautiful hand made wooden frame for a print I’d purchased in Guatemala. Bobby is a carpenter by trade.
As if that wasn’t enough, the following day, Sunday, we were invited to a friend’s house to have a cookout after church. (This is the guy and his family that attend our church and he works at the US Embassy….not The Ambassador as I had accidentally misspoken in an early blog re: our Thanksgiving get-together.) They Zehrs had no idea it was my birthday weekend. We had chicken, burgers, and sausages on the grill and potato salad and all the fixins…and another cake.
The following day I found that my desk in the office was decorated with banners and balloons….and another cake.
So…are your getting the picture with me? I was treated to a great steak dinner with my friends the weekend before my birthday (which is exactly what I would’ve done at home). I celebrated with close friends on the day of my birthday (which I probably would’ve done). I celebrated with my co-workers in the office (which is usually done). And true to my tradition, I celebrated with my new extended family on the Sunday after my birthday.
I was blown away by all of this, and I found myself thinking, “Now why would God go through all of this just for an insignificant 42nd birthday?” Just because He can, I decided. And because I believe He loves me more than I’ll ever be able to fathom, and at times He likes to lavish His love on us.
This was defiantly a birthday to remember!
To start with, more than a year ago, a husband and wife (Bonnie & Charles Eberle) that I barely knew from my home church in Richmond told me that they would be in Belize in March of 2008 and offered to stop by and visit me on their way home. Shucks, I figured that visitors would always be a treat, even if I didn’t know them. Sure enough, as time got closer, the arrangements were made and Bonnie and Charles arrived here on March 1st, the weekend before my birthday. On March 2nd Britney, Bobby and I took them sightseeing around El Salvador. And guess what? The place we went for lunch had fantastic steaks. I’m not talking about a good steak…I’m talking about a steak that awakens all of your senses and makes every morsel like a dream come true. I love a good steak and I’d never had a steak in this country that didn’t resemble shoe leather…but then again, I hadn’t gone to a nice restaurant. So, being quite unaware, the Ederle’s provided me with an early birthday dinner at a steak restaurant…very similar to what I would’ve enjoyed with friends at home on my birthday.
Then, on the day of my birthday, Sat March 8th, I was invited to a special birthday breakfast prepared by the other missionaries. We had biscuits and gravy, eggs, bacon, rolls, OJ and a birthday cake later that evening. Whew! (See photo) And they gave me amazing gifts that showed their creativity and love, yet without spending much money. This included a beautiful hand made wooden frame for a print I’d purchased in Guatemala. Bobby is a carpenter by trade.As if that wasn’t enough, the following day, Sunday, we were invited to a friend’s house to have a cookout after church. (This is the guy and his family that attend our church and he works at the US Embassy….not The Ambassador as I had accidentally misspoken in an early blog re: our Thanksgiving get-together.) They Zehrs had no idea it was my birthday weekend. We had chicken, burgers, and sausages on the grill and potato salad and all the fixins…and another cake.
The following day I found that my desk in the office was decorated with banners and balloons….and another cake.
So…are your getting the picture with me? I was treated to a great steak dinner with my friends the weekend before my birthday (which is exactly what I would’ve done at home). I celebrated with close friends on the day of my birthday (which I probably would’ve done). I celebrated with my co-workers in the office (which is usually done). And true to my tradition, I celebrated with my new extended family on the Sunday after my birthday.
I was blown away by all of this, and I found myself thinking, “Now why would God go through all of this just for an insignificant 42nd birthday?” Just because He can, I decided. And because I believe He loves me more than I’ll ever be able to fathom, and at times He likes to lavish His love on us.
This was defiantly a birthday to remember!
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