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A Birthday Wish

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December 20, 2021 

Happy birthday to me!  Today I am three-score and four . . . and I hope the Lord gives me more years to serve him. 

I’ll never forget the shock I felt a few years ago when I realized that I had entered the latter part of my life.  I think it was around fifty . . . suddenly I realized that I didn’t have as many years ahead of me as I had behind me. 

Wow. When we are younger, we think we have all the time in the world, don’t we? At eighteen, we feel immortal, and at thirty we finally feel mature. Ha! 

I remember sitting in the car with my mom—she was thirty and I was eleven. I was reading a biography of Catherine the Great. “Hey, Mom,” I said, looking up in surprise. “This book says that at thirty, Catherine was entering her prime.” 

“So?” Mom looked at me. “Don’t you think I’m in my prime?” 

I knew better than to answer out loud. 

In the last few years, when we’ve lost so many to disease, accidents, cancer, and all the frailties that beset mortal man, I’ve learned to be grateful for every day and to value each moment. To weigh my projects while considering my investment of time, because time is life, and we have a limited allotment of hours.

In my study of theology, I’ve realized that God, who certainly knows our birth date, also knows our death date. He exists outside time, and to Him, our lives are a blink when compared to the span of eternity. So why does He give us continuing weeks and years? He does because He knows we influence others while we live on earth—and this is when we can have an eternal influence on others. After death, we continue to live into eternity, but we will never again be with lost people. We will never have another chance to talk to them, write for them, do them a kindness or share a prayer. This life is it—our one limited opportunity. 

So when your birthday rolls around, thank God for the years He has given you, and pray to use your remaining days—no matter how large or small their number—for His glory. That’s what I’ll be doing when I blow out my candles tonight.  

Until next time—

~~Angie 

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Angela Hunt

Christy-Award winner Angela Hunt writes for readers who expect the unexpected in novels. With over five million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the best-selling author of more than 165 works ranging from picture books (The Tale of Three Trees) to non-fiction books, to novels.

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Comments

  1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Angie! You wear your three score plus years well, my friend. I pray this next year is your best yet and that Jesus draws you ever closer to him as we take steps closer toward Home together.

  2. •♫♪*•☆☆☆.•*¨ `*•♫♪.•*¨ `*☆.•*¨*`*♪♫ •*.•*¨ `*☆☆☆•*♫♪
    🎂Happy birthday, dear Angie, happy birthday to you! 🎂
    ♫♪*•☆☆☆.•*¨ `*•♫♪.•*¨ `*☆.•*¨*`*♪♫ •*.•*¨ `*☆☆☆•*♫♪•

  3. Happy birthday, Angie! Thank you for the light you share with us! Thank you for the love of Jesus that give to all of us! I pray you will have many more Happy birthdays and blessed years !

  4. Angie, that is such a beautiful Happy Birthday post. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us. When I was ten, my mom was 47. I thought she was OLD. Oh, my. The things we have to learn. “Time is life” is such an important truth.
    🎊💕🎊💕(¸.•* . . :: . .*•.¸)💕🎊💕🎊
    ♫ 🎉Happy Birthday from Robin!!🎉♫
    🎊💕🎊💕(¸.•* . . :: . .*•.¸)💕🎊💕🎊

    • Thank you, Robin! And yes–“time is life” makes me see everything in a different light. :-). The light of eternity. Hugs!

  8. Happy Birthday! As a 16 years breast cancer survivor, I am thankful for every birthday. I’m 61 years old now and happy to be that age. God has plans for me to complete before He calls me home. 🙂

  9. Happy Birthday, Angie! I hit 7-0 this year and I can’t believe it. Now when I read books about “elderly” people in thei 70’s, I’m offended! I’m not elderly yet! Maybe I never will be. At least not in my opinion.

  10. Happy birthday! Thank you for such a thought-provoking and inspiring post. I have been on the same path as you for at least the last 5 years. Every day is a blessing.
    Merry Christmas!

  11. Happy Birthday, Angie. I’ve been a fan of yours for a long time. Back a number of years ago I took your Nangie class at the CCWC conference in Estes Park. Great teaching and learning for me. Now your post came at a critical time as I am about a decade older than you and God is laying the notion on my heart to follow Him more deeply and be open to His leading in these perilous times. God used you now as you did back at that little cabin at the YMCA camp!

    • I remember that little cabin, and I remember you, Pam. I’ll be praying that the Lord will guide you in the next decade . . . and onward! :-). (I think we’ll be writing in heaven.).

  12. Thank you, Angie for your insightful take on birthdays as a way to appreciate every moment of life rather than counting the days. I too am on the waning end but have been rescued not once but twice from death’s door. God has a plan and isn’t done with us yet. Every morning I wake, I celebrate the sunrise, because I CAN. God bless you through this next year.

  13. Happy Birthday to you and me! Today is my birthday also and I have reached a milestone birthdate. Thank you for such an inspiring post.

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