A birth-day to celebrate

I don't celebrate birthdays, so says my all-wise very adult son. Well, I retorted it's not your birthday today. I have learnt to appreciate birthdays. I think it's a getting-older-syndrome, recognizing that everyday I wake up still breathing, alive and well,  is a miracle really.  Especially when every so often we get jolted by news of death, whether it be of individuals we know and/or love, or strangers we don't know,  from whatever cause.  That's the reality of life on earth. 

But life does go on, so do celebrations. Yesterday I attended the wedding of a church member. As I got out from my car, another couple had parked in the spot just in front of me. They recognized me from church, though I am ashamed to say I don't remember their names. As we walked together towards the lift, my right shoe broke apart literally; the sides all "opened mouth."  Actually it's not the first time this has happened to me, which probably means my formal-wear shoes are a tad old. Normally I just get hold of a rubber band from somewhere or someone to tie it up somehow and keep walking. But this was a deserted car-park. No rubber bands anywhere, not even a security guard in sight. And I am going to a wedding. Now for a woman, (even if it's an old woman) that's a disaster.

The couple was most commiserate. The young lady mentioned she always kept spare shoes of every kind in the car just in case. The husband nodded, yes, she even keeps spare clothes in there. I am like.... wow, now why didn't I ever think of that in all my adult years ?!  Anyway, straight off, without me asking, she said she would get me a pair and hopefully it will fit. Though she was a bit concerned if I could handle 2 inch high wedge-heels. Of course the "new" shoes fitted me perfectly, though I had to be a bit more careful (read lady-like) in walking. What's more this angel went the full way of generosity - she said  I can keep the shoes for myself. 

I am so thankful God has indeed already prepared angels to meet our every need, even before it happens. And when God provides, man, He provides abundantly. I am sure it's no coincidence I ended up sitting at the same table with the couple from the car-park.  I thanked my angel once again and remarked how pretty the pastel-colored shoes were. Most astutely, she commented, "Aunty, your shoes must be all black, and all flat kan." Come to think of, she's right, how boring; that's the practical me. As all women would know, black shoes go with practically anything and everything. And flat shoes are so easy to walk in. 

Back home,  I dumped my "koyak" shoes into the bin. As I stare at my first pair of pastel-coloured high-heeled wedges, I am sensing....it's time to be refitted for new, different, bigger, higher and yes, more colorful things. The most romantic book in the Bible, Song of Songs 7:1 actually has the lover telling his beloved, "How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter..."  Ok, I get it; it's time I start walking out with new, stronger shoes.....of faith, hope and love. Old worn-out shoes of yester-years won't hold me up anymore.  

This year is indeed special for me. I turn the ripe (not old) age of 63. As I was pondering the number, it struck me 6+3 = 9.  Biblically the number 9 represents divine completeness/finality. Jesus died on the cross at the 9th hour, with His last utterance, "It is finished."  Personally for me, 9 represents birthing, as in a  woman who finally delivers the baby she carries for 9 months in the womb. And indeed, I have felt as if I am carrying so many things in me for so long. I felt my spirit stirred to call forth their birthing on this day, there be no more delay, no aborting, no still-birth, for according to God's Word, indeed it is finished - the good work He started in me, not when I believed at age 40, but from the very beginning, when He had already had me on His mind even as He formed me in my mother's womb. 

So it's very good I have a birth-day to celebrate ....

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” - Isaiah 52:7

Updated 7/5: The children presented me a very useful Bible, which comes with pages for journaling and verse-mapping. The very first time I flipped it open, the page displayed  Luke 1:45: Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil His promises to her.... Now surely that's a personal prophetic word for me... so I say I believe, Amen and Thank You, Lord.