Sunday, July 24, 2011

I Choose to Celebrate

Dates are facts; celebrations are choices.

Good morning, July 24. Let's do you right.

Because it's my birthday.

***

My hope, each day as I grow older,
is that this will never be simply chronological aging -
which is a nuisance and frequently a bore -
but that I will also grow into maturity,
where the experience
which can be acquired only through chronology
will teach me
how to be more aware,
open,
unafraid to be vulnerable,
involved,
committed, to
accept disagreement without feeling threatened
(repeat and underline this one),
to understand that I cannot take myself seriously
until I stop taking myself seriously -
to be in fact a true adult.

~ Madeleine L'Engle

16 comments:

Mary Clare said...

Thanks for this wisdom, Tricia. I find Madeline L'Engle instrumental to my own spiritual walk. And Happy Birthday! I just stumbled onto this blog and have been reading about your journey. Peace and love to you.

Sandra said...

Happy Birthday. I pray today that you ARE able to celebrate because you are so worth celebrating. Lifting you and your boys up today as you celebrate together. Its a good choice. Happy birthday. :)

Tyler & Brenda said...

Happy Birthday Tricia,
Praying that you have a wonderful day celebrating with your boys.

Blessings,
Brenda

Candice said...

Happy Happy birthday to you Trisha!!

Melissa said...

Happy Birthday, Tricia. :-) You are very, very loved.

Renia Flaishans said...

Happy birthday Tricia! I hope you have a great day with those 2 handsome boys :)

Claire said...

May you celebrate with gusto. Glad you made that choice.

Publisher said...

In all my excitement this morning, I forgot to tell you Happy Birthday! Hope it was a great day for you!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Tricia. Praying the Lord's blessing on you today. God be your husband today, and everyday.

Ruthie said...

Happy Birthday Tricia. I am praying for you to experience some deep, resounding joy today with your boys!

Kris Anne said...

thinking of you as you have marked two huge "firsts" this past week... my heart is heavy for you, yet hopeful.

Gwen said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Dr Bill said...

Dear Tricia,

I think today is an appropriate day to jump out of the silence to say hello and, may I, happy birthday! After lurking here for months, yet praying for you while reading of the awesome grief and amazing grace which has confronted you, I think it's time you know that you have brothers and sisters in Christ you've never met, but because of the Internet are nonetheless still on the sidelines cheering you on with all our might as you run the race before you. Why God gives some of us such a difficult race to run, I can't begin to explain or fathom, but I do think of 2 Corinthians 1:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

This is precisely just what you are doing through your writing and blog, and what a wonderful thing it is to read the vivid accounts of your experiences, struggles, joys, and comforts.

May you continue to be sustained by the grace of Jesus, dear sister, as you walk through the painful valley of the shadow of death. Thank you for sharing your heart, your struggles, and your victory in Christ with the world.

Pati @ A Crafty Escape said...

Happy birthday!

I love that first line! My mom passed away two months ago and I am really struggling with certain dates such as her birthday which was two weeks ago. I need to chant this sentence to myself.

Noel said...

You did it, girl. You made it through two BIG ones. You can do this! You've been on my mind and heart. xoxo

Joel and Ingrid said...

Happy belated birthday. Hope you had a peaceful day and that your heart is overwhelmed with love!