A Wonderful Day

Yesterday was my (Chris) birthday. I am 44. It’s always been easy to remember how old I am because I was born in 1970. Middle aged birthdays are, well, not like young birthdays (here’s the part where I feel a little sorry for myself). I worked all day yesterday from the morning till about 8:30 pm. I was describing it to a friend last night who wanted to know if I’d had a wonderful day. I told him that I hadn’t really had a wonderful day. I was mostly ok with that (Tuesdays are always our family's longest day) and Amie and the kids cooked me a really nice dinner and cake, which was delicious. The day was busy. And part of my afternoon was spent dealing with two bills (you know, the ones that come printed on "pink" paper?).

For many reasons, it just wasn't a wonderful day.

Or was it?

On November 4, 1970, I almost died. When I was born, my lungs refused to work. I had something called “Infant respiratory distress syndrome.” The hospital I was born in wasn’t even equipped to take care of it. There were no ambulances near (1970 remember) so the nurse informed my Dad that if I was to survive, he would have to drive me to the other hospital where I could receive treatment.

Dad told me that he felt like he was in a dream. A nurse held me in the back seat and another rode shotgun and told him which way to turn. Dad said to me at almost every birthday growing up, “Those nuns saved your life!”

I am not at the age where one receives very many gifts for his birthday. And I’m fine with that. I don’t need any more stuff. What I mostly received for my birthday were well wishes (for “a wonderful day”…thank you Facebook) and a nice meal with my family. And those were really nice.

But the real gift? 44 years. And right now, November 5th, my own, personal New Year's Day. I am grateful. This was my morning Psalm today.

“You are my hope;
O Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth.
By You I have been sustained from my birth;
You are He who took me from my mother’s womb;
My praise is continually of You.” Psalm 71: 5 & 6