Beech Tree News Network

Another birthday has come and gone. It caused me to do some reading about birthdays. I didn’t think I’d learn anything new, but I was wrong.

Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthday) reported that in the U.S., birthdays are pretty evenly distributed, but more births tend to fall in September and October. Harvard University research of birth records in the U.S. between 1973 and 1999 showed that in our country September 16 was the most common birthday and December 25 was the least common birthday (other than February 29). But, more recently, October 5 and 6 have taken over as the most frequently occurring birthdays. As a March baby, I missed the most and the least common birth dates.

I also read several quotes about birthdays, including the following (http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_birthday.html):
•    God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well. --Voltaire
•    Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it don't matter. --Satchel Paige
•    The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been. --Madeleine L'Engle
•    You know you're getting old when the candles cost more than the cake. --Bob Hope
•    Love the giver more than the gift. --Brigham Young
•    Your children need your presence more than your presents. --Jesse Jackson
•    To my surprise, my 70s are nicer than my 60s and my 60s than my 50s, and I wouldn't wish my teens and 20s on my enemies. --Lionel Blue
•    To me - old age is always ten years older than I am. --Bernard Baruch

As a child, my family didn’t celebrate birthdays with gifts. We wished the individual a happy birthday, and my mom might bake a cake for our dessert that day. My late husband and I enjoyed celebrating our daughters’ birthdays. And, of course, my grandchildren’s birthdays are a cause of celebration, too. This change in the way birthdays are celebrated may reflect the difference in economics: we have more disposable income now than fifty years ago (at least in my family).

Last Sunday, my granddaughter’s and my birthday were celebrated at our family lunch. I’m thankful for birthdays – they are one measure of God’s gifts. And, certainly, I’m grateful for another year.