Celebrating You (an excerpt from "My Intentional Life")

I think birthdays are a big deal.

When your birthday shows up on the calendar, it’s time to fully appreciate why the day is celebrated. Your birthday is the day that a brand new, never-been-seen-before person comes into our world—and as far as we know, our universe.

This version of you will never appear again—not at this age, during this time in history with the specific combination of beliefs, experiences, and gifts you possess. Brevity of life is certain; breadth of life is uncertain. You’re here, you just don’t know for how long.

We have the privilege of engaging with a wonder of life—you! We are honored to talk and laugh, work and play, hope and grieve with you. During your time in existence, we will hear your original thoughts and ideas, and watch you tackle challenges in a way that we would not have imagined.

Your birthday is the day when all these experiences were made possible by your arrival on earth. Author and pastor John Sheasby says, “You can only be fruitful where you are celebrated, not where you’re tolerated.” I choose to hang out with the people who celebrate me. And I celebrate them because I genuinely appreciate and value them.

And when we are valued, we become the best version of ourselves.



(c) 2011 Sheri Smith Bertolini