Happy Birthday!

Today is a special day.  August 8th is my Pawpaw's birthday, and this is his first birthday since he passed away earlier this year.  Yes, it is a special day because my family has always celebrated his life, and though he's not with us this year, I know each of us has remembered him in our own way.  Naturally, sadness has touched our hearts today because we wish he were here to celebrate just like every year before.  But can you imagine how much better Heaven is than an earthly birthday party?  It's really kind of silly to even compare the two.

So no more sadness today....  Just a few moments ago, it occurred to me that today is a special day in my life, too.  Today is the 30th anniversary of my infant baptism.  My mother has always told me that I was christened on my Pawpaw's birthday, and I always thought that was cool, but it hasn't held much significance for me until this year.  Now I feel somehow infinitely, cosmically connected to this man.  So you see, he isn't really gone.  Of course, he's not physically present, but he lives on in our hearts and our memories.  And on this day, that's reason to celebrate.

Pawpaw on his 93rd birthday