The Less Self-Absorbed Birthday Girl

On the 1^st of June, two days before my birthday, I found myself writing “Thank you” cards to my church Pastor, my leaders, some of my sheepies, my office-mates, and even my bosses.  (And those were just the first batch as I plan to write more cards until the end of the month.)

“As I celebrate my birthday, I would like to let you know that I thank Jesus for sending you into my life…”
That was how I started those thank you notes.

I thanked my pastor for always teaching me about the love of a father. I thanked my leaders for always challenging me to be who God wants me to be. I thanked my sheepies for teaching me patience and unconditional love.  I thanked my office-mates for supporting and helping me be successful at my job. I thanked my bosses for trusting me and giving me new things to learn at work.

They were all surprised as I handed them white envelopes with their names on it as I said “for you, kasi birthday ko.” Some even thought I was giving invites for a party. What I was doing something uncommon and unusual and strange. After all, I was the birthday girl. I was supposed to be the one receiving cards (and gifts).

But the reason why it was so ununsual was that it was soooo NOT ME!

If you knew me before, the Cheska (or francis) few years ago, this was really unusual. 

In the past, days before my birthday, I would be thinking who would be the people that would greet me, and who would totally forget about my special day. Were my friends preparing a surprise for me?  (I would really, really hope that there would be a surprise.)  And were they getting the gift that I wanted? Did they do some research to know what I wanted? Most of the time, if there was no surprise, or if it was late, or if I didn’t feel that it was done with effort, I would feel bad. And I would go into a pity party and would think that people didn’t really value me enough or didn’t really love me.  My college batch-mates from Campus Crusade for Christ would probably testify to this. They know how easy it was for me to feel bad and feel tampo back then hahaha! Yup, that was the Cheska few years back. Very much self-absorbed and my birthday was all about me feeling special.

I’m so happy to realize how much Jesus has changed me in the past years.  Slowly, slowly... until finally, I have a breakthrough in my character this year.

I thank Jesus for changing me. Really. I thank Jesus and how His love has made me so secure and so assured that whether everyone remembers or whether only a few persons remember my special day, I’m ok because I know that my Daddy God sure remembers it. He even knows the no of my hairs.  I’m ok that whether I receive gifts or not, I have already received the greatest gift on the cross. And that God has blessed me by surrounding me with people that teaches me so many things and makes my character better and better as the years go by.

Hubby reading the "Thank You" card i gave him.