The famous “1905” salad from the Columbia Restaurant – the location of my birthday dinner. I can’t wait!

Today is my birthday.  Thirty-three years ago, in 1981, I breathed my first breath of air on this earth.  From my perspective, 33 years is a long time.  Your perspective may be different.  You may have things in your closet that are older than me.  Nonetheless, I have learned a few things over these 33 years.

Can I share three lessons that I have learned?

1. Nothing in life is guaranteed.  When I was younger, I had certain expectations.  For example, I expected to get married and have children.  I expected to have a nice house.  I expected to have a job.  I praise God that He has blessed me with all of these things.  However, I have also had other expectations go fulfilled.  Additionally, I have lived long enough to observe that not everyone gets what they want.  Some people never marry.  God does not give children to everyone who wants them.  Jobs come and go.  I don’t think expectations are wrong.  I have just learned that nothing is guaranteed.  I guess what I am really saying is that I have learned that “God’s ways are not always my ways.”
2. I am responsible for my actions.  The longer I live, the more clearly I see this truth.  I see more and more people who travel through life with a ‘victim’ mentality.  They consider themselves to be victims of a myriad of external circumstances.  Nothing is ever their fault.  Often, because of this mentality, they refuse to accept any responsibility for their actions.  They are always looking for ‘something’ or ‘someone’ to solve their problems for them.  I have learned that I am responsible for my choices.  Often (but not always) bad things happen to me because I make bad choices.  Solomon said it well, “Disaster pursues sinners.”  (Prov. 13:21)  I have learned that the source of nearly all of my problems is the one who stares back at me when I look in the mirror.   I am responsible.
3. I will never have “enough” money.  There have been several times in my life when I have said something like, “If I could just make $_____ then everything will be alright.”  Then, each time that my salary has increased, the number in that previous sentence has also increased.  I am (finally) learning that there is no such thing as “enough” money.  My guess is that there are some people who make 10 times more money than I who still feel like they do not make “enough” money.  I am learning (and trying to remember) that whatever God chooses to give to me is “enough” money.  I must manage it wisely and steward it well.  Perhaps this lesson could better be stated, “I already have ‘enough’ money,” because I have whatever God has chosen to give to me.

There you have it.  It is not everything I have learned.  In reality, it is just a small sample.  Hopefully, you have already learned each of these lessons.  Hopefully, you learned them a long time ago.  If not, read them again and consider your own life.  I believe they are lessons we all should heed.

So, if you see me today (which you probably won’t) don’t forget to say “Happy Birthday!”  If you are wondering what to get me for my birthday – I like Buffalo Nickels :).

That’s all.  Have a great weekend.

Stephen