Birthday Thoughts

This last weekend, I celebrated the completion of my 75th annual trip around the sun and began my 76th annual trip, which, with any luck, I will be able to celebrate its completion next September 6th and begin my 77th journey around the sun. As Christians, we take the time to celebrate the significance of life on the anniversary of our birth. It is a day that we reflect on the significance and preciousness of our presence in each other's existence. 

I’ve come to understand that the older I get, it’s not so much about my own birthday, but by the passing of those in my life who were so significant in mine.  

My dad was only present in my life for the first 16 years before he passed away at 45 years of age from the ravages of cancer. That terrible disease robbed him of his ability to walk during the nine months before his death. That affliction bound him to a wheelchair and the hospital bed, which was in our downstairs front room. 

Never once did he lose faith or feel sorry for himself. Instead, with the help of my mother, he worked hard to regain his upper body strength. That allowed him to pull himself up and pivot out of that bed and into the wheelchair. This simple task provided him the necessary mobility to once again enjoy the warmth of the summer sun on his face, which he so much enjoyed. My mother would then wheel him down the ramp our neighbor built, which gave him the additional freedom he so yearned for.  

As I got older, I recalled those days and how he persevered to overcome the adversity that he and she together overcame in our little home on West Main Street in Penacook. They never gave up, although they understood all too well that the hand they had been dealt was not a winner. Instead, they demonstrated nothing but strength in the face of adversity and pain, while providing their three children with a great example from which to learn and live their lives. 

It would be twenty-three years later when welaid my mother to rest from the same terrible disease. Once again, she demonstrated that same resolve and strength that my dad had shown during his battle in1966.  Hers, however, would only take nine days before she was taken. Just enough time for my sister to rush home from Kobe, Japan, where she was teaching English in an American International School. 

As soon as her daughter walked through that hospital room door, she immediately perked up in bed, smiled and asked for a cup of tea and a piece of toast. As I look back upon that moment over the years, I am convinced that she wasn’t ready to let go before her precious daughter was there and wanted to demonstrate to us all that everything would be okay. 

She passed early the next morning, but not before she was ready, and another lifelong lesson was given to us. 

Yes, our birthdays are important. What is more important is what we do with our lives and the impact it has on others. The positive impressions it leaves on your relatives, communities, friends, and even strangers. Even small, thoughtful acts of kindness can significantly impact another person’s life and create ripples of goodwill throughout society. 

Look at the good that is constantly being done here in our own area by the many service clubs such as Kiwanis, Rotary, the Bargain Basket, Our Daily Food Pantry, Christmas Island Style, and so many other wonderful volunteer groups every day here on the island. 

I do think that is why we are put here. To be the solutions to the problems that may be the difficulties others are facing. Have a great day and thanks for all the birthday wishes.