The Numerology of Birthdays

Today I made 52 years. I like the New Orleans way of referring to birthdays, because it seems accurate. I have completed fifty-two years of living. And I am pressing on to the fifty-third.

I told a friend that this wasn't a special birthday -- and she immediately disagreed. All birthdays are special. My Bible study group is closer to my age than she, and they understood. Most of them said they've stopped acknowledging birthdays altogether. I fall somewhere in between.

I do think all birthdays are special. I just meant that the number 52 is a non-special number. There is nothing significant about it. I was wrong. It occurs to me that there are fifty-two cards in a deck -- so maybe that means that I am now playing with a full deck for the first time in my life! It also occurs to me that there are 52 weeks in a year.

"Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change" (2 Peter 2:8-9, The Message). 

I like that. I think I'll claim it for today. Fifty-two years is as good as Fifty-two weeks. What I've done over the past 52 years isn't nearly as important as what I do this year.

I guess birthdays always remind me that it is important to number our days. I'm glad I've made 52 years -- but it's what I'm going to make of the next 52 weeks that matters.

I want to be a good steward of God's colorful grace in my life. The precious people he's put in it. A family and a church that I love. A giving husband. Unlimited opportunities and resources. 

Thank you, Father, for giving me 52 years. Teach me to number the days in this next one, that I may get a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12).