This is Me

How utterly self-centered can I be as I sing “Happy Birthday to Me” today? Why not? This birthday week started with my sweet husband giving me a James Avery sunflower necklace that honors our wedding and the sunflowers we chose. Before that, he had taken me to a “Sunflower” Vietnamese Restaurant that displayed sunflowers throughout.

My family will all be coming in next weekend, but Ryan and Shawntel took us for a lovely dinner where I was celebrated Wednesday night. Please don’t deflate me for celebrating me. This is my life — the only one that was meant for me.

I remember when my Alexia once asked, “Nana, how does it feel to be younger than the Great Depression? How does it feel being younger than the greatest drought ever that led to the dust bowl years? How does it feel to be younger than the Empire State Building?” With happy tears, I was elated that something was older than me!

Honestly, I am grateful to be younger than something — especially when my doctors, lawyers, teachers and preachers are younger than me! I know I am blessed beyond what I deserve with the love of friends and family. I matter! Yay!

The truth is we have always mattered to God. He tells us we are His treasures: “They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession.” Malachi 3:17

Treasures. God always saw us as treasures and on our birthdays, we get to rock that truth. I’m rocking even as I type this blog today. While the media leads us to believe that youth somehow have more value, we are always treasured by God at every age.

He gives us specific gifts to share with the world in every season of our lives. We best be owning and sharing those gifts. They are the specific ones God planted within us.

Birthdays are a big deal – because birthdays represent our God-given mission and destiny and every year that we’re here, we get to celebrate our journey. Let’s take that a step further. We have the opportunity to celebrate — not just THE day, but EACH day that God gives us. Celebrating it with a joyful, thankful, forgiving heart that is open to bringing forth flourishing fruit.

So, why not party — at least in the sense of celebrating YOU and me? Whether we are 8, 38 or 88, we should be celebrated because we’re still here so we aren’t done! “They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be vigorous and flourishing.” Psalm 92:14

The “This is Me” song from the musical “The Greatest Showman” is sung by Keala Settle as an anthem. As I was looking for the lyrics for this blog, I saw the original video of Keala singing the song with the rest of the vocalists in a practice room for the first time with Hugh Jackman.

Of course she was intimidated at first. She didn’t even want to step out from behind the music stand. You must see the transformation that took place as she sang the song as if it were her own anthem. I was in tears, and I think you will be, too!

“This is Me” – let’s own who God made us to be. He has plans and purposes that only we can fulfill. Walk out being YOU! Because YOU matter!

Here is the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLFEvHWD_NE

“Look out ’cause here I come;
And I’m marching on to the beat I drum.
I’m not scared to be seen; I make no apologies, this is me.”