Today our family celebrated two birthdays! One of them was mine.

Growing up my birthday fell at a busy time of year and often was overlooked, which didn’t seem to bother me too much, that’s just the way it was. Many of my friends got lots of birthday presents and often I didn’t get any. One year in elementary school another girl asked me what I got for my birthday and I said “nothing”. The next day she asked me again. I told her nothing and felt so embarrassed, so I added, ‘but I probably will.’ So she asked me again the third day what I got for my birthday and I said, “nothing”.

So I think I tried to down play the importance of birthdays, not make a big deal about them because that’s how mine was treated. Mom and Dad loved me, but they were too busy.

After we kids left home, Mom started a little notebook. She would write down everybody’s birthday, especially little kids she knew from church, and without fail send them a birthday card.

Everyone loved my mom and loved receiving a card from her. It meant alot to them to be remembered.

It was about remembering another person, their life and their value.

I am so thankful for her good example. I love her and I miss her.

I hope each of us stop and see the value of our own lives, and in honoring them, begin to honor and value other’s lives more dearly.

Today I will plan ahead to remember and honor one person on their birthday.