This morning I asked the Lord for something special.

Just a little love verse, or inside joke, or whispered song,
commemorating my entrance into this world on
Sunday, November 1, 1959 at 4:34 p.m.

I flipped open the Bible and searched for a word,
but there were no goosebumpy moments.

I picked up a pencil and wrote the date in my journal,
but no wise contemplation broke forth.

I sat in my chair, listening in the silent, dark morning,
but I didn’t hear a thing.

I gave up on a “special something” and got on with my day.

Little did I know,
the birthday party was waiting for me in my bathroom.

As I stood in front of the mirror looking at my year-older self,
I saw something in the reflection — gifts galore.

That Psalm I’ve been living with for ten months,
the one I can almost recite all the way through without peeking —
called to mind my 21,000+ days and my future, better Day to come.
“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.”

Those two toothbrushes standing at attention,
brought to my attention that thirty eight years and three bypasses later,
I still get to see two toothbrushes in my mirror every day.
“I am my beloved’s and he is mine.”

The straightener that I use every day but have never noticed,
says Nu-Me, and I am reminded that I am
renewed daily by His mercies.
“They are new every morning; great is his faithfulness.”

Those little pearly earrings, cheap imitations of the real thing,
speak of the real thing — the kingdom pearl of such great value
that everything is worth trading for such a gift.
“When he found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had,
and bought it.”

All my birthday gifts were hiding in the bathroom.

Party on.