It’s just another day but I have the privilege of adding one number to the age I was yesterday. As Jimmy Buffet would say, I’ve made “one more trip around the sun.”

Birthdays have taken on a new meaning for me over the last few years. My birthday now serves to remind me of not just how old I am, but how long I’ve accepted Christ Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Four years and five days ago marks the event during which I came to know Him. My life hasn’t been the same since.

I was especially reminded of His love and the love of my fellow Christians today when I read the dozens of birthday well-wishes I received through Facebook and emails (I’m away from home on business so if I received any cards at home via regular mail, I don’t know of them yet). Disregarding the whole concept of “Facebook friends”, I was struck by the realization that four years and six days ago I could count my true close friends on both hands plus a few extra fingers. Since then, that number has grown exponentially to hundreds of men and women whom I love and who I know love me – men and women who, because of our love for the Father, I now call Brothers and Sisters. They helped drive that realization home by their sincere desires for God’s blessings to be bestowed upon me today. Wow, I know I am truly blessed!

Dear friends, through your examples, you have enriched my life. I am reminded of Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” I am still on the dull side, but by allowing me to learn from you, you are helping to hone me into the person Christ wants me to be. Your faith and your actions have allowed me to see Jesus in you and brought me closer to Him. I can only hope you can say the same about me.

God Bless you all.

(As Iron Sharpens Iron was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

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