A Birthday Present

We seniors aren’t especially fond of tacking on another year when a birthday rolls around. Our fragile body parts remind us we are no longer invincible. My calendar tells me I need a tooth restored, surgery on two toes and removal of cataracts.

Today is my birthday. I woke up this morning thinking of ways to grow old gracefully but switched to thoughts of thanksgiving and, why not? I have been blessed.

My family arrived on Friday. Joyous faces filled my home along with fun food, laughter, games and lots of rich birthday cake. This bunch is a party in themselves.

Actually, my birthday celebration began last week. The husband invited me to drive up to the mountains with him and have lunch in our favorite town. With appetites satisfied, he dropped me off at the mall with a generous gift card and told me what every woman loves to hear: “Take your time!” That’s where I discovered a birthday present I wanted with all my heart.

While shopping, I accidentally backed into a perfume display and hit the jackpot. Amazing Grace! I discovered this light scent last year and bookmarked it in my brain as a must have. But, it’s pricey. I grabbed a bottle.

Amazing Grace in its pale pink pretty packaging reigns top of the list this year when it comes to birthday presents. Also, it confirms my 2021 word from the Lord: grace! I’ll be digging in my Bible with hopes to learn the accurate meaning of God’s amazing grace. Not the phony, copycat definitions of favor. God’s Word, my benchmark for truth, will help me figure it out.

Amazing Grace Perfume’s manufacturer, Philosophy, spews gibberish about this gem on the box. The message talks of life’s ups and downs and a need for grace to be able to make it through the day. But there’s a better philosophy; it dates back 2,000 years when Jesus made a way to God’s throne for believers.

The Cross, A Perfect Way

The reason grace is so amazing is because I can’t earn it. I can’t buy it. It is freely given from a Savior who laid down His life so I can be forgiven and access Heaven. Every morning when I spray a lavish mist of Amazing Grace and dance wholly into it, I will remember God’s great gift to me. Oh Lord, help me to remember to give grace freely to others as well.

Tomorrow my family will leave, every opened and read birthday card will be filed away and the cake will be a distant memory. However, the best gift-- Amazing Grace—lives on in sweet salvation.

Spiritual Sundays ~ Flamboyant Love

I was shopping for a birthday card during my lunch hour last week when I overheard an elderly woman in the card aisle talking to her niece, a woman about my age. Here is what she said: “ I threw out all my cards. They never meant those words anyway .” Lots of laughter followed. How sad I thought to be unable to receive the love sent to her in the sentiments of a card. This incident got me thinking about the love of God and resolving to embrace it when it is offered to me. It doesn’t matter if I think I’m worthy of such extravagant love; He thinks so! In contrast, just a day later I received one of those gorgeous hand-crafted cards in the mail from my friend, Kay, who loves paper crafting. It was so pretty and love and joy just oozed out of it when I opened it. This is a sample of her designs at Creativity is Good. Kay wrote a beautiful note to me in the card reminding me of God’s tender love for me. She ended her thoughts with “The God of the universe loves us more than we can ever f...

Holiday Movie Comes to Life

It’s uncanny when a new holiday movie comes out and resembles your personal life. I came clean to my husband on that drive to the Harkins in Sedona confessing that the movie got bad ratings. It isn’t the type of movie that he would choose to see in the first place. Rotten Tomatoes gave it one star. My prince charming replied: “ Let’s see what we think of it and rate it ourselves.” Yes! High five to his palm! It started out as a fun afternoon date. It would have been perfect if the lady directly in front of me didn’t have on super-strength perfume. Smells can be troublesome when you’re prone to headaches. I stuck my head in a big bucket of buttered popcorn; you know-- to alleviate her fragrance, because popcorn smell is less offensive. What else is a girl like me to do? We named the genre “drama with comedy.” Cast of characters acted like the typical family scene at Christmas tim...

Abba's Lap

I noticed a behavior pattern in little Amy, twenty months old, that I want to imitate. She moves fast engaging in one toddler activity after another spinning like a whirlwind from one room to another. Yet, she pauses, intermittently , long enough to get refreshed. I want to be like this grandchild of mine because she knows where to go and how to get comforted. Amy moves at record speed, putting more miles on a pedometer in one hour than my accumulated weekly workouts at the gym. She can build a skyscraper so tall, I wonder why those bright pink Lego’s don’t topple to the ground as she continues to stack just one more piece on top. I learned never to leave the room to get another cup of coffee. Once, when I returned, I found her climbing past the couch with hands and feet reaching for the living room drapes. She has a consistent habit that I admire. In the midst of her activities, as she moves robustly from one play...

DUTAJanuary 31, 2021 at 11:28 AM
Happy Birthday Mary! Enjoy God's gift and your favorite perfume Amazing Grace!
The cake looks rich, and the candle bright and warming! Your family is a great Blessing.
Many happy returns of the Day!
Mevely317January 31, 2021 at 11:51 AM
Happy Birthday blessings, Mary! I'm so glad to hear your family feted you in the fashion you so deserve. I'm no expert, but guess Mr. God is looking down at you with a BIG smile on His face.
Kim @ Homesteader's HeartJanuary 31, 2021 at 7:54 PM
Awe....I love this! And Happy Birthday!!! And thank you so much for stopping by. I thought everyone had disappeared. LOL!
HUGS!
Kim
Creations By CindyFebruary 1, 2021 at 6:25 AM
What a precious post dear Mary. AMAZING GRACE from our Lord is amazing and I bet your Amazing Grace perfume is too! So glad that you had a wonderful birthday. They do tend to roll around quicker don't they ? LOL! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
CherylFebruary 1, 2021 at 4:26 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, sweet friend! I am so thankful you had such a wonderful birthday filled with fun and surrounded by the ones you love the most. May the dear Lord bless this to be your happiest year ever and may He bless you with many, many more happy, healthy birthdays, in Jesus' name! Love and appreciate you so much!
shayndelFebruary 2, 2021 at 2:31 AM
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shayndelFebruary 2, 2021 at 2:34 AM
Hi Mary, Happy Birthday!! May you be a fragrant aroma in Christ as you wear the perfume and always!! Much Love and blessings , good health and joy unending on your birthday and many, many more!!!♡
RCUBEsFebruary 3, 2021 at 8:38 AM
Happy, happy birthday sister Mary! I don't think it was accidental that you discovered the perfume last year, only to be bought a year later. The Lord gave it and He always gives everything in His perfect time! Grace! We all need it! Especially at these tumultuous time! But what option do we have? Nothing but always focus on our Great Savior and His grace! Your aroma from life to life always increases my faith sister Mary. I have been AWOL from blogging but never in my prayers. I always keep you in my thoughts and prayers so I know the Lord is always there with you, no matter what fragile body parts need replacing! It's awesome you had a fun day with your family...God bless and strengthen you always sister Mary! Thank you for always sharing with us your love for Jesus! Love and prayers always.
BrendaFebruary 5, 2021 at 3:52 PM
Sounds like you had a lovely birthday Mary, and the perfume sounds lovely. Whenever I think of birthdays I never think of getting one year older, as we are only a day older than we was the day before :-}

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