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These words below came on my brother’s birthday which is two days before my birthday. They were written by Henri Nouwen (go figure...he’s my go to guy). Not my birthday. Not my words. But I feel like I need to own them. Not so I can possess them for my own need, but so I can pass them out to everyone. After all, we all have one thing in common...a birthday!
Nouwen writes, “Birthdays need to be celebrated. I think it is more important to celebrate a birthday than a successful exam, a promotion, or a victory. Because to celebrate a birthday means to say to someone: “Thank you for being you.” Celebrating a birthday is exalting life and being glad for it. On a birthday we do not say: “Thanks for what you did, or said, or accomplished.” No, we say: “Thank you for being born and being among us.” On birthdays we celebrate the present. We do not complain about what happened or speculate about what will happen, but we lift someone up and let everyone say: “We love you.” Happy Birthday, to you.
2 Comments
2/26/2019 09:04:58 am
very cool. I will use some of these lines next birthday I celebrate for someone-so much more meaningful than plain ole happy bday.,.”Thank you for being you.” And “Thank you for being born and being among us.” Today we celebrate you! (Also, don’t forget to thank the celebrant’s Mother!!)
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Ian Macdonald
3/4/2019 12:16:25 pm
Thank you Lisa. I am pretty good at calling up the mother's of friends (if I have their number) to tell them thank you for giving birth and caring for their child. Too many people these days don't think putting in the time to rear kids is worth it. And while there are days I'd love to sell my children to the Irish gypsies (which I often threaten to do)...I wouldn't be who I am today without them.
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Ian MacdonaldAn ex-copywriter turned punk rock pastor and peacemaker who dedicates his life to making the world a better place for all humanity. "that they all might be one" ~John 17:21“Prius vita quam doctrina.”
~ St. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) * “Life is more important than doctrine.”
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