Last year on my birthday I decided to spend the day doing acts of kindness. Now before you start with the “aww how sweet” let me explain the brokenness that started it.
I love birthdays! I don’t know why, but I always have. I don’t get upset about getting older. I actually got excited when I turned thirty (while most of my friends were depressed about it).
The problem with loving birthdays so much is that I typically create very high expectations that are never communicated and very unrealistic. I saw my birthday as a license to be selfish.
“Please serve me, it’s my birthday.”
“No arguing because it’s my birthday.”
“The world will be better today because it’s my birthday” and so on and so on.
As you can imagine when you have high, unrealistic expectations there will be a severe disappointment. That would inevitably lead to me being depressed on my birthday.
Last year I decided I was done with my selfish attitude and was going to give my birthday to others. I took my kids who were 2 and 5 at the time and went around the city doing acts of kindness. It wasn’t anything elaborate or costly. We gave out stickers, scripture verses, candy, and left pennies for a ride at the grocery store that only costs a penny. We hid dollars at a dollar store, and we prayed for people.
I couldn’t believe how much joy me and my kids experienced from sharing these simple acts of kindness.
What was even more interesting to me was how much it was received by the people we blessed. At times some gave my kids stickers, and they even got some cake pops! I didn’t experience any amount of depression that day. What I experienced was more than I ever imagined. It became my best birthday yet.
The funny thing was I felt more celebrated.
I think God was trying to teach me that when we give (even give up our selfishness, and in my case give my birthday away) we can experience so much more in return.
Consider this scripture:
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19
Wow Amanda!! Your blog is so great and right on target. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you so much!!
You make me want to be a better person. I love you so much, my daughter by another mother!