My 60th Birthday: Celebration as a Way of Life

Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.

- Psalm 1:1-3

Then they came to Elim, 

where there were twelve springs of water

and seventy palm trees,

and they encamped there by the water.

- Exodus 15:27

Today is my 60th birthday.

I have really looked forward to this special day... so last year, I told myself that when my next birthday comes, I will celebrate it in a meaningful way.

And it happened just the way I dreamed it would.

We had a beautiful birthday dinner and blessing ceremony last night, the eve of my birthday. According to the Hebrew calendar, the new day starts at 6:00 p.m. - so my 60th birthday actually began at sundown yesterday evening. 

I wanted a celebration that would have God at the center of it all, for indeed He is the One writing my life story.

... all the days ordained for me were written in Your book

before one of them came to be.

- Psalm 139:16

For the past 12 years, I have been involved with Family Foundations International, a ministry that offers seminars aimed at healing emotional woundedness and re-establishing a culture of blessing in family relationships.

The enemy has severely damaged the family unit, sowing discord, dissension, dishonor, and disrespect among its members. The 12 years or so that we have been working in this ministry of reconciliation and restoration has shown us what the power of honor can do in our lives.

The term "full-circle blessing" was dropped into my heart by the Holy Spirit at the start of this year.

Craig Hill talks about the completion of the blessing cycle in his video seminars, so when I heard the term full circle blessing, there was an excitement that arose in my spirit.

In the original Jewish culture, blessing was a natural part of their everyday life. Children were accepted, wanted, welcomed, and nurtured - all throughout the six crucial points in a child's life:

- at conception,

- during the time he spends in the womb,

- at birth,

- at infancy and childhood,

- at puberty,

- and finally, at marriage. 

When the parents reach old age, it is their time to receive blessings from their children. A lifestyle of blessing will water and nurture the relationships within the family; it also prepares and softens the hearts of children to provide their parents with the love, care, and nurture that they need at this season of their lives.

What often happens is that tributes are recited by the children when their parents die. A blessing ceremony will ensure that tributes are given to them while they are still alive.

With the support of my children, and the help of my dear friend Miriam who coordinated the event, my 60th birthday celebration turned out to be a beautiful night of blessing.

Each of my three children -- First Born Son, Worshiper, and Obedient One -- prepared a wonderful tribute honoring me, thanking me for the way I brought them up, serving as a role model and mentor for them to follow. They also spoke words of blessing to honor me on my 60^th birthday.

A hundred special family members and friends were invited to the elegant birthday dinner at Sugarland Hotel.

Much prayer and preparation were put into this event months before the actual date.

I had already thought of giving away beautiful designer mugs containing a special plant for my guests - but it was only in early February that Miriam and I came up with the idea of putting a tree seedling in each mug. 

We bought 60 narra seedlings, which I carefully tended and nurtured myself for the next six weeks. 

Little did I realize that it was my heavenly Father guiding me, even in this matter.

I had requested William, the national coordinator of our ministry, to give the blessing of our family name to me and my whole family during the blessing ceremony, but I did not realize that giving away a tree seedling would be so significant and fitting for the occasion.

Our family name comes from the Spanish word arbol, which means "tree." The family name itself literally means, "a place of many trees."

But its spiritual connotation is, "a restful, shady place."

In the Bible, Elim is mentioned in Exodus 15:27 as a place where there were twelve springs of water, and seventy palm trees. It is one of the places where the Israelites camped near the water during their exodus from Egypt.

To be a place of rest.  This is our calling as a family.

It was surely the heavenly Father who inspired me to give away 60 narra tree seedlings on my 60th birthday. Isn't that amazing?

As March 2013 draws to a close, I choose the word celebration as the special name for her. On the third month of this my 60^th year, I share in this post how celebration became an important life lesson for me.

Celebration is one of the first love languages I learned to speak.

Ever since I was born, my life has always been celebrated. My first birthday was celebrated with a huge party given by my parents in honor of their first born child. Then, every birthday after that, up to my 18th year, was also celebrated. Both sides of my family often gathered for a meal to commemorate or observe a special occasion.

Celebration is therefore an important part of my life. The celebration does not have to be always grand or lavish. Just to be able to celebrate in a simple but elegant way was good enough.

What a privilege it is to have been raised by parents who understood the importance of celebrating the special seasons in their family life.

I know that the God who created you and me is Emmanuel, God with us, who wants to enter into the moments, events, and seasons of our lives, and to celebrate each one of them with us.

People who at one time or another walked with me in my  journey, and played an important role in my life story, were invited to be a part of or to witness the blessing ceremony and special birthday dinner on the eve of my birthday.

Sixty years ago I was born into this world, a little baby girl who was cared for, loved, and nurtured by good parents. My earthly father reflected to me the father heart of God, preparing my heart to encounter my heavenly Father, in my freshman year at university and I came to know my creator God in a life changing way. That was the turning point in my life; indeed, my life is a witness to the saving, redemptive grace of our Creator, Redeemer God.

Forty years have passed since December 1973 when I first gave my heart back to my rightful Master and Lord. It is to Him that I owe my life – who I am, and what I have become. It has not always been an easy life, but God has remained true to all His promises.

In 1973, I told God that I want the life that He intended for me when He created me. And I have prayed that nothing would prevent Him from fulfilling His purposes in my life.

Even if I have not always been able to keep this prayer, God knows it has been the underlying goal of my life – to discover the purposes of God and to live as a kingdom person for His glory, no matter what it takes.

Four years ago my beloved husband went home to heaven, and I entered the most painful season of my life. Nevertheless God’s strength and comfort were real, and in my grieving season, in the midst of my unspoken fears, doubts, and the uncertainties, I experienced for myself the unchanging faithfulness of God.

Today I am blessed with a growing family... there is now a third generation being brought up in the clan that is the fruit of our marriage.

I stand before you in humility, giving glory and thanksgiving to God alone, for what I am today has come about only by the grace of God.  

At 60, my life is far from over. In a sense, I believe it has only begun. There are new realizations, a deeper spiritual awareness, new doors to be opened, new kingdom connections.

I fully embrace my role as an endtime worker to help prepare the Bride of Christ for the return of her heavenly bridegroom.

As I enter my 60^th year, I decree and declare that I will not live for my own comfort and personal agenda, but for the fulfillment of God’s kingdom agenda through me.

I thank God who has promised in Jeremiah 32:40 that He will never stop doing good to me. 

The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

May I be found faithful... and fully committed.

Nevertheless, it's not about me. It is my birthday, but this celebration is not at all about me.

It's about the One who holds the pen in His hand, the Author of my life story, the One who promises to finish what He has started.

His name alone be praised on this day and forevermore. 

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Sharing twelve life lessons on my 60th year:

January 2013 - Restoration: A Matter of Perspective

February 2013 - Authenticity: A Matter of Trust

March 2013 - Celebration As a Way of Life

April 2013 - Relinquishment: A Journey of Faith

May 2013 - Abiding: The Anatomy of a Birthday

June 2013 - Exchange: My Weakness for His Strength

July 2013 - Divine Appointments: God's Surprise Visits

August 2013 - Worship: Hidden Riches in Secret Places

September 2013 - Longing for Things Unseen: Escape from Reality

October 2013 - God's Favor: A Season of Replacement

November 2013 - Honor: Creating Space

December 2013 - Sanctuary: Where God Dwells