Not your typical 21st...

Yesterday I walked into the kitchen, said good morning to Emma and Micah (my early-rising, castle-building, ever-energetic 5 and 7 year old housemates), and was commanded, “Miss Acadia, don’t you even think about looking over here!” Micah rushed to the counter and indignantly spread his arms, in a quite valiant attempt to hide the large bowls of fruit in plain view.

Someone knows me well…Ridiculous quantities of my favorite fruits and surprise ‘A’ shaped pancakes began the most atypical, and wonderful, birthday ever.


Sometimes pancakes and bananas are better than birthday cake and ice cream (especially if you mercilessly stuff the bananas with chocolate and nutella and stick them in the oven til gooey delicious). Sometimes the best gifts aren’t in wrapping paper. Sometimes catchphrase is a better birthday party game than…uh, any number of more typical 21^st festivities.

Banana smores, Kurdistan edition

That ‘sometime’ was yesterday. My wonderful friends here didn’t ascribe to the traditional birthday customs. They made the effort to incorporate my unique quirks and wishes I didn’t even express. They prepared a surprise fruit breakfast even though a cake mix and candles would’ve been much more simple. They could’ve wrapped up some nice sparkly jewelry for a gift, but instead took the time to (sneakily!) set up a fundraiser for a child’s surgery on the upcoming Remedy Mission.

These dear friends know me well, and showed me that we weren’t celebrating my birthday, but celebrating me.

Spiritual application time: Last night at home group we compared different ways of knowing Jesus. On one hand, memorizing stories, hearing other people speak, and knowing facts (like the date of a birthday) all provide important insights to who a person is. This “head knowledge” requires minimal commitment.  But you can get to know endearing quirks and wishes, and true birthday cake preferences, and favorite activities, and it's a whole different story. This heart knowledge requires daily life together.

I want to know Jesus well enough to truly celebrate him. The Creator God knows each of us that well, and thanks to His Son, it is a two-way road.

That road can be quite beautiful, sometimes a terrifying adventure, and often difficult. Yesterday, I was blessed to take a step down the road by witnessing in my friends the generous spirit of a God who celebrates us. I must thank Him, and them, because it’s the best birthday gift I could ask for. (Banana smores and lifesaving heart surgeries close after…)