Grace in the Storm (a continuing journey) Happy Birthday Today is Bev’s birthday. She would have been 59 years old. She wouldn’t have cared that I told you. I remember her 24th birthday. It was her first birthday as Bev Clark. Actually I’d like to forget it…because I forgot it. I didn’t really forget it…I just didn’t understand why it was so important to acknowledge it. Can you say “idiot?” I remember Bev’s 30th birthday. I wanted to surprise her. Since she was 8 months pregnant with Anna, I knew she wouldn’t feel up to doing a whole lot. So I invited 30 of our friends over to the house for a surprise party. It was a fun evening and Bev enjoyed it. I was so proud that I had pulled it off…but it didn’t go exactly as planned. I wanted the surprise party to be a Pajama Party. The plan was that we would go to bed around 11:30. Just before midnight, I was going to have the 30 people show up in their pajamas and we’d have a sleep-over. So following the surprise party, we went to bed for the night. I informed Bev of my Pajama Party idea. My 8 month pregnant wife rolled over and simply said, “If you had done that, I would have killed you.” I remember Bev’s 40th birthday. I wanted to surprise her. It took me 26 years of birthdays, but I hit a home-run with this one. US Air was offering a $40 round trip fare from Columbus, Ohio to Chicago. I purchased 5 tickets for our family. I took Bev and the kids to dinner for Bev’s birthday. I told Bev we would be staying the night in Columbus so she would need to pack a change of clothes for her and the kids. After a nice dinner, I handed Bev her birthday card. The card contained the round trip tickets to Chicago and this itinerary. Depart Columbus at 7AM. Arrive in Chicago at 8AM. Take the subway from Chicago O’Hare to the Magnificent Mile for the day. Board the subway at 5PM and head to Chicago O’Hare. Depart Chicago at 7PM. Arrive in Columbus at 9PM. When we went to bed that night, I asked Bev if she enjoyed her birthday. My 40 year old wife rolled over and said, “I really loved this. I had a great day.” I remember Bev’s 50th birthday. I wanted to surprise her. For 50 days prior to her birthday, I sent daily gifts and notes building up to December 1, 2005. 50 roses (don’t be too impressed…they were black roses)…50 kisses (again, don’t be too impressed…they were candy kisses)…Fifty days of all kinds of fifties. In a way, her 50th birthday was a great day of relief. For Bev, she was relieved knowing she wouldn’t have to deal with another day of “50’s.” For me, I was relieved in not having to come up with any more ideas involving the number 50. I was looking forward to Bev’s 60th birthday. I can be pretty predictable. I’m certain it would have involved some sort of surprise. But that just turned out to be wishful thinking. I don’t know exactly what they do in heaven for a birthday. But birthdays are recognized in heaven. Bev’s is. Mine is. I hope yours is. Check this out. When a sinner repents, the change that takes place is so drastic that the only words Jesus used to describe that change are “born again.” When a sinner repents, the change that takes place is so drastic that the only words Paul could use to describe that change are “a new creation.” And Jesus, when teaching about how all of heaven responds when one person repents of their sin, says, “I tell you the truth, there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents…(John 15:7)” The day Bev trusted Jesus to be her Savior, there was a birthday celebration in heaven. The day I trusted Jesus to be my Savior, there was a birthday celebration in heaven. Has there been a celebration in heaven for you? So yes…today was Bev’s birthday…and I miss her more than I can express…and my heart really longs to be with her. One day…one day… For now, this will have to do: Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday dear Bev Happy birthday to you. I love you. I miss you. I’ll see you one day. Until next time…
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 18:32:11 +0000
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