I woke up at 6:30 to the phone ringing. From the other end a cheerful duet of "Happy Birthday" roused me from my bed. On my way out the door in a hectic flurry I found two cards, one from my husband and one from my children. I grabbed the cards I had received earlier (one from my dad and step-mom, one from my best friend) which I hadn't read yet, stuffed them in my bag, and headed out into the cold.
Once my daughter was safely in the hands of her bus escort, I headed straight for coffee headquarters. As I rounded the corner of the secretary's desk, I noticed a shiny blue bag with a silver ribbon and a card with my name on it propped up by the coffee pot. Slowly my heart began to be filled. I was serenaded two more times by fellow colleagues on my way back to my classroom. Finally back at my desk with a hot cup of coffee, I pulled the cards from home out of my bag, and I browsed through them again:
"Friends like you are precious and few."
"I want you to know how much I enjoy your visits."
"May your day be filled with happiness and blessings!"
"It's wonderful having a friend like you..."
"... all my words don't have the depth to say how much I love you..."
"You are everything I ever hoped you would be."
"...the confident, loving person you are today makes me prouder than anything..."
"Your kindness and energy never cease to amaze me."
"... because you're very special..."
My cup overfloweth. I have been showered with genuine love and blessing the whole day, and I have all of my dear, dear friends and family to thank. The gifts I have been given have been thoughtful and completely fitting... all of my favorite indulgences and treats. Every time I was greeted today I was filled up just that much more, and I honestly don't think that anything that happened today went unnoticed or by accident. I believe in divine appointments -- and today was MY appointment.
And so I am grateful today... that I have found favor with my God who loves me too much to leave me wallowing in my own self-pity, who loves me so much that He would have it in His plan to arrange one of the most fulfilling birthdays I've ever experienced, and who also says, "It is good." And I am also indebted to all of you who listened and obeyed... who said exactly the right word, who gave the best hug at exactly the right time, who gave the most thoughtful gift perhaps even if you second guessed it, for you are His divine and perfect love to me today, which is EXACTLY what I needed.
I cling tonight to a concept that a very close friend of mine wrote to me today, "I hope that this birthday marks another turning point for you: the year of Becky." Let the festivities commence!
All my love, Becky
