Gifts

I was thinking back over the last 43 years of birthdays and gifts. There was the yellow dump truck at age 5. I loved that thing so much I dropped every other toy to sit on the grass and play with it. To all my friends who attended that day and felt replaced by the Tonka truck, I'm sorry.

There was the Atari game system that came a few years later. My life became more complete that day...or so I thought. At night, I still have nightmares about "pong" and "brick-breaker."

In high school, I got my Wilson A-2000. I had been praying really hard for that thing and didn't really think I'd get it. (that's a baseball glove for those who don't know). The older I got, the more grown up my gifts got. Music and movies, sunglasses and clothes. I was too "old" for plastic soldiers and toy guns. I was a "man."

But today, I'm a little wiser as I reflect on the best birthday gifts I've ever received. No, this isn't about Lisa again today--technically, she arrived before my birthday.

It's actually about you. That's right you...all of you. You see, with the passing of the years, I have come to understand the value of friends. As a person, I've been blessed with far more than I probably deserve. I awoke this morning to over 90 birthday messages already posted on my Facebook. In between, I've gotten little else done besides reading the reminders of what an incredibly blessed man I am. There have been songs (some not so good, but appreciated just the same). There have been emails and cards and a lunch. All the way through this day, God has given me reminders of all the amazing reasons I have to be thankful. Believe me, I am. I am thankful for each and every friend...the young and the not-so-young, the new and old, those who live far away and those who are close by. Some of you call yourself family. Some of you are. But regardless of where you are and how long its been since I actually saw you face-to-face, I love you. I appreciate you. I pray for you. And I want to thank you for being the best gift that I've ever received. I thank God that you can never outgrow your friends.

Thanks for all the birthday and anniversary wishes. They are precious to Lisa and me!