It was my birthday yesterday, and I received exactly 7 birthday wishes. Right on the dawn of the new day, it was my daughter who was the first with a cheerful "Happy birthday daddy". My wife was next, eventhough she was the first to get out of bed. Did she forget? Did my daughter's enthusiastic greeting remind her? I dared not ask. My eldest son who lives about a thousand miles away sent me a text message birthday greeting at about 9 in the morning. Then my sister who is 6 years older, called to tell me that she had not forgotten. Turns out that she was the only one of my three siblings who remembered. My close friend and his wife came to where I worked to remind me that once every year my age will nudge closer to his, but then his day will soon come when he will edge away from me again, so I will never catch up with him no matter how hard I try?? Sounds very much like a dog trying to catch his own tail. Curious analogy!! Anyway, they were the first to give me a birthday present, a canvas chair which was not really comfortable but useful nonetheless, still it was the thought that counts. Thanks mate, that was really nice, not that they remembered my birthday, had I not invited them to come for dinner. Of course I never told them what the occasion was, but they figured it out anyway, having been invited for the same occasion last year! My second son never mentioned my birthday the whole day, until he presented me with a bottle of Shiraz just before dinner, and we were together the whole time. Well, that's fine too. For my part in God's plan, I oversee the faith formation of about 35 people directly under me, and more than 850 overall in the ministry I serve. I also lead some 29 volunteers in the same ministry... but for all these numbers there were exactly only 7 people who remembered that I was once born into this world just like everyone else, albeit a long, long time ago... and none from this group! I have another close friend who completely forgot what day of the year it was, and this was in spite of the numerous hints and clues from me, and mind you some of the clues were not even subtle, more like anvils dropping from the sky if you ask me, like "... have we remembered everything that we need to do this weekend?", "I hope I haven't forgotten anything, have you?" By the way I am not really complaining, this is just the thoughts of a person who has already reached the half century mark. Maybe when you have been around this long, others just take you for granted. Oh well, so life goes on... and I am sure God has not forgotten, for that, I will remain happy always. Thanks for the birthday blessings Lord, I really could not do with them... and I never ever forget Your birthday either, so please let me be around again to celebrate it with You at the end of this year.