The Year I Gave Away My Birthday

There are two single, unrelated magic things about me:

1. I get free things all of the time, namely coffee-- namely from the Starbucks on Richmond Road, but also lots of other places, too. All of the free things, just so often, without prompting.  The reasoning is inexplicable.  It’s just magic.
2. I always have a high turnout for my birthdays, even though it’s wedged smack-dab in the middle of Jesus’s birthday and the new year.  Historically, my birthday is the very worst time of the year to have a birthday, but I always have 20+ people turnout to birthday dinners.  It’s magic.  

Last year, when I turned 25, I went to Chicago for a fun-filled weekend with one of my sisters, and then had a belated birthday dinner at Malone’s with lots of friends and a cute new Banana Republic dress.  When it came time to plan my 26th birthday, I decided I wanted to use my birthday magic to make other hearts happy, as making hearts happy is what makes my own little heart the happiest.

This year for my birthday I asked my friends and family to make lasagnas and cookies and show up at a campus ministry building to surprise a family of eight with a birthday party that was infinitely more joyful than any party I’ve ever had before.  I also asked complete strangers to do this.  And you know what, people came-- they came and they hung decorations, took directions, and manned activity tables and they loved on the kids I love the most and it was perfect!  And those who could not make it dropped off food and games.  It was perfect. It was magical.  It was Heaven.

Low quality photo of a high quality glimpse of Heaven

One saintly lady I love even made four GIANT delicious gourmet birthday cakes, and each of the eight family members had a cake with their name on it.

Count ‘em

Lately I keep noticing the most satisfying thing I can do is take what God uses to bring me the most joy and share with everyone I know.  Whether it’s birthday magic, cake, free coffee, or the 7 cutest kids I am not biologically related to-- I’m meant to share.  

When I was younger, if I heard the word “service” I thought about doing things to take away pain.  In my 26 year old wisdom, I have found the best way to take away the pain of this world is simply to spread joy… not just do unwanted tasks so someone else doesn’t have to, but doing more of what makes me feel closest to Heaven while inviting other people in.  

This year I traded a new Banana Republic dress for sweatpants and gave away my birthday magic, and it was the best, most satisfying trade-off I have ever made. What can you do to share what makes your heart the happiest?  When you figure it out, let me know how I can help!