Danny Milano is a lechon maker who works for Claudia’s Lechon, one of the most popular suppliers of Philippine flavoured roasted pigs in Auckland. He marked his 50th birth anniversary on November 1, 2009. Proprietor Sendo Menchavez went out of his way with the help of more than 50 friends to surprise Danny with a celebration. Sendo told Danny that there was an order for lechon to be delivered in the Social Hall of the Good Shepherd Parish in Balmoral. Just to make sure that Danny would have no inkling about the activity, Sendo gave Danny a free parking ticket in Sky City, which is several blocks away, to make it appear that a more private affair was arranged later.
By 5:30pm, Danny arrived at the Social Hall and as he entered the room, the well-wishers greeted him with a “Happy Birthday” song. Danny’s face glowed with joy and amazement and this remained so throughout the programme; with people dedicating songs to him and close relations sharing tributes to a humble and valuable individual. Though he did not have the company of his own family, Danny must have felt the love of the people who surrounded him at that moment.
It was the same warmth in the heart that I experienced on November 6, when my three children – Kim, Jam and Me-el – surprised me with a little celebration on my 53rd birthday. While my wife, Debbie and I went out, they hurriedly cooked delicious recipes and ordered a decorated cake. We all had a wonderful time in the dinner table, a precious moment that I wanted to last forever.
Birthdays are usually associated with feasts and parties with family and friends around, with food and drinks served, where fun and laughter abound. Some look forward to it as a time for receiving gifts; while others approach it as an occasion for sharing.
The key to celebrating a birthday is for a celebrant to consider it as a special moment for a special person. Menachem Mendel Schneerson wrote: “Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year: The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again.” Whether you spend your birthday among friends, with family or alone, you ought to be happy and acknowledge to God: "You have filled my heart with great joy. It is greater than the joy of people who have lots of grain and fresh wine." (Psalm 4:7, NIrV)
There are no surprises as far as God is concerned for all His children. "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago."(Ephesians 2:10, NLT) He promises us eternal life in His Heavenly Kingdom and each year as we mark our birthdays, we must rejoice for we draw ourselves closer towards God’s destiny for us. "All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139:16b, NIV)
by Mel Libre
No comments:
Post a Comment