[and a few other random photos]
Today is my birthday.
I plan to:
Go to Mass;
Honor the Holy Guardian Angels; and
Thank God for the gift of life.
I will also probably eat cake at some point.
Note: Today is not my 50th birthday, despite the playful intimations of my husband yesterday. I am 46, thankyouverymuch, and although—like the beast in that poem by Yeats—I am slouching ever closer to the half-century mark…
I am not there yet.
Are you?
How’s it feel?
I would imagine that it feels grand.
I mean, there’s really no limit to all the loving and learning, right? Provided that you don’t act like there is? The fact is, God’s eternal and so are we. Our age is but a temporal barrier, and we have the means to sneak past it if we try.
And I do mean try.
As in don’t give up—on yourself, on your life.
There are times when I am tempted. I think, what’s it all worth? What am I worth? What’s the point?
Those are heavy, frightening thoughts, and I don’t like them—not a bit. That’s when I try to run to the light. I run to grace; I run to nature; I run to people who are much wiser than me.
As my Catholic therapist says, you can either lash out at the darkness…or you can turn on the light.
Otherwise we just end up losing our head.
We lose our hope;
We lose our happiness;
We lose our sense that we are made for God.
Note: As it turns out, the “Catholic therapist” that I’ve been seeing is not, in fact, a Catholic psychologist. Rather, he’s a Methodist pastor. Who’d have thought? I reckon I can forgive him this, especially given all his expert advice.
Like: “All of our fears stem from the fear of being lonely.”
And: “Ultimately, the only thing that keeps us safe is our connection to God and to other people.”
We can’t do things by ourselves, he tells me, and you probably know that I agree. Why else would I be telling you this? Why show my weakness? Why not be strong?
Well, it’s because we’re all connected in a very real way and today seems like a good time to note this.
Why else would we celebrate our birthdays?
It’s because, you know, we do really matter.
It’s because life is a gift…
And so are you.
Happy Birthday! And I'm only 4 months closer to being 50 than you are, so not a lot of worldly advice from me. 🙂 And I love the pictures!
Happy birthday to you! Today is my sister's birthday, too, so I never forget yours. 🙂
We are made for community, that is true. And it's not weakness to need people. 🙂
Lots of love to you, Maggie!
Happy, happy Birthday! I pray that you have a blessed birthday surrounded by those you love!
Happy Birthday!
Lovely post today.
Thank you.
Happy Birthday Margaret! Celebratig the wonderful gift of YOU today. We'll have cake…well, actually to celebrate our Guardian Angels…but still, we'll remember you too 🙂
Happy birthday, dear lady. I pray your day is blessed with all good. Good naps, good children, good cake and ice cream…
I wish I was there to bake your cake and sing to you!
PS 50 is not so bad. At least you get the benefit of being assumed wiser! Except by one's own children. 😉
Happy 46th Margaret!! I turned 46 in June I think it's a good age. My dear husband turned 50 last week. It doesn't seem too bad either. Have a great day!!
Lovely post. Lovely sentiments and lovely photos.
Happy birthday, Margaret. I hope it's a very blessed day.
Happy, happy Birthday!!
God Bless you on your Birthday!
Awwwww, happy birthday, God bless you, may the guardian angels surround you always!
Beautiful photos!
I have to say, I thought you were turning 45, you do not look even near 40!!
Sending love and prayers on this special day!
Happy, happy birthday dear dear Margaret!!! Fabulous collection of pictures, especially the grandparent ones – they are stunningly gorgeous. You're still a cutie, even sans tweedy tam. Enjoy your special day! Eat lots of cake! (and take an extra long nap)
Happy Birthday! Beautiful post. Enjoy your day!
Happy Birthday, Dear Margaret!!! I am in awe that at 46 you are still able to conceive and assist our Dear Lord in bringing another sweet soul into existence!! Thanks be to God! Not many 46 year olds are so blessed! I join Barbara in saying 50…I mean 51 is not so bad! 🙂
Hope you have a wonderful day!!
Happy Blessed Birthday Margaret!! 🙂
OH Margaret!
I cannot even begin to tell you just how much I needed this post today. While I have been struggling a lot with my faith (which is different than my belief – I'll never stray away from the Catholic Church!) and the 'what is the point of this? of me? I'd do everyone a favor if I wasn't here anymore' feelings.
So much so that I almost found myself in the hosptial this week as I was done.
There was a reason you wrote that post today – maybe because you needed to write it yourself – but I know that God is trying to reach me in whatever way he can and today you were his vessel.
Thank you.
And Happy Birthday. I hope you know just how amazing you are and how much you shine Christ's love – even if you don't see it.
Happy Birthday! I enjoyed all the pictures!
Happy Birthday my friend. 🙂 I hope I looked as good as you at 46 (I'm not that far off). I made an appointment to start seeing my old therapist again. I see her on Thursday. The depression is starting, and I've been through it enough times to know when I need help (can't do it on my own like you said). She's not Catholic, but she's a gift and I'm grateful for her. Many blessings to you on your special day. Enjoy the cake!
Happy Birthday EH! 😉 I hit 50 2 months ago, meh, aint so bad ;p
The only regrets I have, or shall we say "wishes" is that if I had to do my life over again, I would never ever enter into marraige and having children without the grace of conversion and the RC church. I go to mass alone and when I the families like yours, I offer up a little prayer for them. I try to always smile at others when they look my way and if the oportunity comes, have a pleasant word for one of the children. and since I am well known, when other people try to "gossip" about Mrs so and so being pregnant "again", doesn't she know what causes it, I shut the speaker down with charity and in defense of Mrs so and so.
Another beautiful post! You were born to write. I thank God for the gift of YOU!
Happy Birthday dearest one!
With much love,
MV
Another thank you – if my brother were still alive I would ask you the favor of calling him and talking to him to share your wisdom. Alas, it is too late for his soul. He checked out before reaching out. Before reconnecting with God and others. Please hang on, run to the light and bathe in it.
Birthday blessings! I hope you had a lovely day. Ironically, my oldest is also named Margaret and my youngest shares your birthday. How sweet.
Happy, happy birthday dear, dear Maggie!! We have cake here to celebrate the gift of YOU, as well as our Guardian Angels. 🙂
And by the way, I'll let you know in a couple weeks how 50 feels… 😉
Sending love and blessings, dear friend.
Margaret,
this post is beautiful. It spoke volumes to me. It brought peace and light into my mind and heart.
He loves you like crazy! And He will forever be faithful.
"Nothing can come but what God wills. And I am very sure that whatever that be, however bad it may seem, it shall indeed be the best." -St. Thomas Moore.
Thank you so much.
In Him
Alanna
Happy Birthday, Margaret! Beautiful day! Hope you enjoyed
the sunshine and all the colors.
Cheri
Happy Birthday! You and my husband share a birthday, except he's a year older. You and I are the same age (at least we will be when I have my birthday in a few weeks). Hope you had a wonderful day!
Happy Birthday, Margaret! Just wanted to let you know I got my copy of "Total Woman" from the library yesterday. I'm halfway through- it's a really great book! The Lord is really speaking to me about this lately. Thank you being a gift to me and my marriage! God bless you today and tomorrow and for the rest of the year. Peace and good, Beth
Ok, these photos are lovely and all, but, ummm, where are the cake pictures?
🙂
Hope it was a great day!
Margaret! I hope you had an amazing day! God bless you and your family this day and always!
A belated happy birthday to you! Many blessings for the years to come.
Happy Birthday Margaret! I loved seeing all the pictures!
Happy Birthday! I love your baby picture…so dern cute..YOU still are!
Happy {belated} birthday, Margaret! May God bless you abundantly with His grace in this new year of life!
happy belated birthday! so i'm just now seeing this because on YOUR birthday, i was busy HAVING A BABY! 😀
so glad my little Rita has someone so awesome to share her day with – and of course, those lovely Guardian Angels!! 🙂