I’ve had more birthdays than I care to count, which makes me something of an expert on celebrating them right. Many ladies who have lived beyond middle age respond with answers about their birthdays like this:
“I am not celebrating. I’m too old to celebrate my birthdays now.”
Well, I couldn’t disagree more.
The Holy Bible says,
“However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they will be many. All that comes is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 11:8 KJV)
Reflecting on this, each birthday not only marks a year of life but also embodies a fresh opportunity to embrace joy and celebration.
Let me tell you about a few that really stick out in my memory.
We had just moved from the bustling Park City in east Knoxville to the quieter Farragut Concord area in west Knox County when I reached the tricky age of puberty and entered seventh grade. Adjusting to a new neighborhood and school is tough during those teenage years, but my folks were set on helping me make friends. For my freshman year birthday, they let me throw a birthday bash. Daddy manned the grill, serving up his famous burgers, while Mama bravely handled the drink station and kept an eye on the parade of teens marching through her spotless house. Initially, I invited a cozy group of about a dozen, but word got out when someone blared the invite over the loudspeaker at the school basketball game! The party ballooned from 12 to 75 guests quickly —many of them were upperclassmen football players who wouldn’t typically mingle with a freshman. I was on top of the world until the next day, that is. No one brought beer to my party, which I was grateful for since my parents didn’t allow it. But they definitely had it stashed nearby. I know because I had to apologize to the neighbors the next morning as I picked up empty cans that had been thrown into their respective yards.
Then there was my sixteenth birthday. My best friend orchestrated a surprise party that completely fooled me. The plan was a simple stop at another friend’s house, but I walked into a basement transformed with streamers, balloons, and a spread of snacks and a cake. Music filled the air, and all my friends were there. That first “Surprise!” really warmed my heart—it showed me just how much my friends cared.
One of my earliest birthday memories is dining at Regas Restaurant with my family, the only five-star restaurant in Knoxville back in the dinosaur age. It was an elegant place, known for being one of the best in Tennessee. What I remember most is the dessert—an ice cream masterpiece topped with animal crackers and a sparkler, making me feel like the star of the evening.
There’s also a fuzzy memory of a carousel set up right in front of our house, courtesy of Kerns Bakery. They were promoting their bread, and every kid who took a ride got a warm, sample-sized loaf. I can’t recall which birthday it was, but the joy and laughter of that day is unforgettable.
Fast forward to my fiftieth birthday, when one of my friends pulled off another fantastic surprise. We walked into what I thought was a lunch for two but found a room full of dear friends ready to celebrate. The room burst into surprises, including a whimsical top-hat with candles and gifts that teased about aging—everything from Metamucil to Preparation-H. The laughter was endless, and the love palpable.
At this point, many birthdays blur together, but those special ones, including the delightful surprises thrown for my kids and my mother’s seventy-fifth in Florida, stand out. Surprising Mom when she thought we couldn’t make it to Florida was so much fun. The look on her face was priceless—a reminder of why we cherish these celebrations. And hosting parties for my children’s special days, whether at a kids restaurant called Chunky Cheese or home, I loved every moment of it.
Through all these years, I’ve learned that celebrating each other is one of life’s true joys. God delights in our happiness, and there’s something profoundly fulfilling about making someone feel loved and celebrated. After all, isn’t it the love and surprises we remember most? While the gifts are great, it’s the gatherings, the unexpected guests, the laughter, and the shared moments that truly define a memorable birthday. And who knows? Each birthday could be our last, so let’s make them count—not to be a downer, but just to say, cherish every one.
..whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life?
It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanished away.
(James 4:14 KJV)