We’re
now at the time of year, in our family, when we’re celebrating quite a few
birthdays. For the numbers in our
immediate family, it's quite a feat to have a late February birthday, three
small ones in March, and four more birthdays, all adults, in April. After that
our pocketbooks get a break. Not that we go crazy or anything, because we don’t.
Even a modest birthday gift, one on top of the other adds up.
Now
that the two smallest grandchildren have acquired a number of words, thanks in
part to an older sibling and one in child care, they’re learning to say “Happy
birthday” and the name as well.
Yesterday we had a birthday supper to mark a significant year for one of our daughters, and as the little ones could at least say some of those words, I gathered all the children from their various playthings, and we all sang Happy Birthday, while I accompanied on the guitar. We sang it twice for my daughter, then someone wishing there was another verse prompted the number verse (How old are you now?), we sang it again without the number.
We also sang the song for Nolan who’d just turned two and whose party will be later in the month. One of the older granddaughters who is in French immersion suggested we sing it in French, so we sang along with her as best we could. I kept my accompaniment minimal and soft so as not to overpower her seven-year-old voice. I think we’ve begun a new tradition. Maybe later the nine-year-old will join us with the ukulele that she's beginning to learn, thanks to one of her teachers at school.
Today
the first grandson to turn two, in spite of feeling unwell, repeated the word happy when I sang each line of the
birthday song that we performed last evening for his aunt. At the end of the
song, he said, “Happy birthday, Wowa (how he says Laura).”
These
are happy celebrations, meant to be marked in some way, if only by a family
gathering, a gift or two, and the birthday song. It wasn’t so long ago that we
could have sung Happy Birth-day to a special baby whose arrival we celebrate each
December 25th, one who came to save our world and who wants to be
Redeemer of our hearts. At the beginning of Lent, try to remember why he came to us and what he offered for us all.
Carolyn Wilker, author and editor
1 comment:
Well, well, Grandma' Carolyn - that's a lovely story. What smiles the little'uns bring our way as they grow and learn. It's interesting how some families happen to have certain 'big birthday months.' We have several 'cluster' months during the course of the year, too.
Oh, BTW, that's yet another talent you uncovered today - playing the guitar. Great! :) ~~+~~
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