May is a wonderful month to celebrate birthdays.  It is usually the real start of Springtime, at least in Vermont, so winter is moving out the back door.   I share my birthday with my sweet niece Maggie.  This year is a special celebration because it is also Mother’s Day.

Everyone likes to feel special on their birthday and I am no exception.  Growing up in a large family, birthdays were the one way to help each child feel the love of God and family.  My mother was God’s star assistant with this task.

Even with nine children, each one had a special home-made cake:  not always a party but always a cake.  Most of the time, it was a rich chocolate cake with buttercream frosting – yum!  My sister Doris is bringing the cake for my birthday on Sunday, made with the same recipe and love that my Mother used.

For my first birthday away from home, when I was in college in Vermont, my mother made the birthday cake, decorated it and sent it by “Special Delivery” (remember that postal service of the olden days?)!  It was an overnight delivery from Connecticut and it was dee-licious!  My friends were in heaven with home-made birthday cake.  I felt so loved.  My family was with me in the celebration. 

I will always remember the extra effort that Mom made to remind me that I was her cherished child.  Her example reminds me to recognize the extra efforts that our loving God takes to help us feel special and unique.  He came to earth, suffered and died for us!

My mother’s love for me is a dim shadow of the overwhelming, unconditional love that God has for me, for you, for all His creations.  Let this be your first thought when waking, your last as you end your day and every moment in between:  God loves you unconditionally.

Happy Birthday to all!

Terri

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be
called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1, NIV)