Jimbo's Jots

Here are some fun facts about the “Happy Birthday” song:

• The original lyrics were written by a school principal, Patty Hill, to welcome kindergarten students called, “Good Morning to You”; the music composed by the principal’s sister, Mildred Jane Hill;
• The song was published in 1893;
• The lyrics were changed to Happy Birthday to You between 1900 and 1910;
• Happy Birthday song was first published in a song book called Beginners Book of Song and Instruction in 1912.

Birthdays are worth celebrating!! They account for a level of growth and maturity. They signify the continual transition of life from baby, to toddler, to child, to adolescent, to adult and finally to senior adult.

The birthday cake is a tradition that dates back to the ancient Egyptians first and then to the Greeks. According to tradition, the ancient Greeks adopted having a cake and would make it in the shape of the moon to honor the goddess of the moon, Artemis. Candles would then put on the cake as a symbol of the moon shining brightly.

In our family, there are a number of March birthdays that we have celebrated. As a kid growing up, birthdays were celebrated but were not as drawn out or huge. There were seven of us kids. There were some months that had several birthdays. As family expanded, there were more months and birthdays. My birthday is also my parent’s anniversary. So, a lot of times, we celebrated both.

Your birthday is a special day!! It is the day that you entered the world. It is the day God gave the world a gift of YOU.

So why all of this talk about birthdays? Because I want you to know how much you mean to God and to others. I have had many people struggle with their own sense of self. They talk negatively about themselves. And I get to remind them of what the Psalmist said:

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it.” (Psalm 139:13,14, The Living Bible)

So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Whenever that may be, I hope it is a day of celebration. I also hope it is a reminder of how wonderfully God made you!!

Be blessed!! Be a blessing to others along the way!