Birthdays are important.

On the anniversary of our birth, joyous celebrations commemorate another year of life. For thousands of years, birthday parties have helped celebrate all the things a person has accomplished in the past year and express hope for a bright future.

Just as there are many different cultures around the world, there are many different ways to celebrate birthdays.

In Russia, instead of cake, they eat a personalized pie. And in Mexico, the birthday boy or girl gets to have some nice arroz con leche, or rice pudding. In Vietnam, they don’t celebrate their individual birthdays. Instead, they celebrate getting a year older on “Tet,” which is the Vietnamese New Year.

Each breath, each day, and each year of our lives is a gift from God.

No matter how we celebrate our birthdays, we should remember to thank God for giving us another year of life, praising Him for all that He has done and continues to do for us. Today — and every day — let us ask for His guidance as we go throughout our lives; praying for help to grow to be more and more like Him.