Birthdays in the Christian world have a reality in new birth.

Prior to the celebration of Christmas, Greeks and Romans celebrated the birthdays of their gods. The Greeks, for example, would make moon-shaped cakes for their lunar goddess Artemis. They topped each cake with lit candles to make it give off light. The Romans celebrated the birth of their god Saturn with a feast followed by gift giving. So Christians initially associated birthday celebrations with paganism.

Then, in the fourth century, Jesus’ birth was put on the calendar. Soon after, the celebration of Christian birthdays followed.

Much to my youngest’s chagrin, her birthday only comes once a year. She doesn’t know it, but that birthday famine she experiences for 364 days is really a blessing. Birthday celebrations would not be special if they happened all the time. The same goes of course, for summer vacations, holiday parties, even that weekly Sabbath. Doctor appointments, court dates, sickness, job losses — those moments of hunger for peace and laughter prepare us to be thankful for the moments of joy, to really see them for the blessings that they are.

Our lives are full of unbirthdays. Undoubtedly there is good in them. Perhaps, if we can’t see the blessing yet, we can thank God for the future joys unbirthdays are preparing us for.