A BETTER BIRTHDAY
January 26 Thursday 2006

It’s a fact of life. The older people get, the more difficult it is to buy them presents. Perhaps it’s because our tastes become more refined (and consequently more expensive) as we mature; or maybe it’s because many of us are already blessed to have the things we want in the first place.

I can honestly say that God has always met my needs; that I have never been left wanting; and that I am truly blessed. And yet receiving birthday “presents” has lost much of the excitement that I felt as a child. Back then, getting presents meant everything.

But everything changes; and everything did change when my mother died. As each year passes, I'm reminded that it's another year we spend apart... and another year less to spend with loved ones who remain. Material things begin to lose their meaning it seems.

But my birthday this year has been extra special. Not because of the gifts I've received, but because of the people I've been able to spend it with. Some of the guys from Flight threw a suprise party for me at Zambra (complete with root-beer and cake), Tom and Jacinta took me out for dinner and my PCLL small group celebrated my birthday and Chinese New Year over a marvellous hot-pot. The highlight of my birthday, however, has been my Dad's visit. He's flown all the way from the UK to spend an entire week with me. I honestly can't think of anything better.

To top it all off, and despite everything I've said about presents above, I'm actually totally stoked about some books I've been given. I'm now the proud owner of all the Calvin & Hobbes books thanks to Anthony; Venus has blessed me with a funky Cantonese learning book; and Marian has sent me a copy of the "Bear Went Over The Mountain" by William Kotzwinkle - the book that rekindled my love for reading. What a wonderful birthday, and it's not even February 1st yet!