Jenny’s letter 18th May
Dear Friends,
Last week, our family celebrated two birthdays—my brother, who got to one of those milestone birthdays, and my daughter Rachael who was 33.
We did what we always do when someone’s special day rolls around: we ate far too much, sang “Happy Birthday” with varying melodic success and cut into cakes that somehow always taste better when shared with family and friends. It was joyful, and deeply comforting.
As the week continued and we went our separate ways, I found myself reflecting on how much these celebrations mean—not just as traditions, but as significant moments or important pauses. In the swirl of everyday life, birthdays remind us to stop and look at each other with gratitude. To say, “I’m glad you’re here. I’m thankful for your life. I wish you well.”
My brother is now a grandfather. As he blew out his birthday candles, I couldn’t help but picture him on his first birthday. There is a photo of him in a blue suite looking at a chocolate cake with one candle in it. I would say I remember it but perhaps that’s the photo playing tricks with me. Rachael had several birthday cakes in several locations this year. Sadly I don’t remember her first birthday but I do remember the second. She wore a little tigger outfit and we had a day out on Steam Trains as she loved Thomas the tank engine. She also cried a lot because she didn’t like us singing to her. I’m still not sure she likes it but she does enjoy the cake. A tiny girl with golden curls, now an adult living independently – where did the time go? How fast it passes.
Life is precious and each birthday is a marker, not just of aging, but of God’s faithfulness. We’ve all lived through things—illnesses, disappointments, changes we didn’t ask for. Yet here we are. Together. Still standing. Still laughing, mostly. Still loved.
As I reflect, some words from Jeremiah 29:11 come to mind: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.” It’s a verse that comforts me, especially when I think of my own life which has had some tricky twists and turns and the life of others who may feel things haven’t unfolded the way they expected. God’s plans often look different from ours, but they are never second-best.
If you’re reading this and feeling like you’re in a difficult place—maybe your birthday passed quietly, perhaps there is no one to celebrate with, maybe you’re grieving someone who should have been at the party — please hear this: God has not forgotten you. He sees your sorrow and holds it tenderly. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Not every celebration is filled with joy. Sometimes we celebrate while carrying unseen burdens. But even in those moments, there is comfort in knowing that birthdays are not about perfection—they are about presence. God’s presence with us. Our presence with one another.
It’s easy to look at someone else’s life and think they have more to celebrate. But the truth is, every year lived is a testimony. A witness to survival, to love that endured, to grace that covered more than we knew. Whether surrounded by children and partners or standing alone in a quiet season, each life has deep value. And every person deserves to be celebrated.
When we light candles and sing that familiar song, we’re doing more than marking a date—we’re speaking blessing. We’re saying, “Your life matters. You are loved. You are not alone.” That kind of affirmation reaches far beyond the party. It becomes a seed of hope, a reminder that better days can still come.
So here’s to birthdays—not as mere traditions, but as sacred celebrations of God’s ongoing work in us. Here’s to families that gather, to food shared with laughter, to the sweetness of cake and the even sweeter presence of those we love.
And here’s to you—whether your heart is full or aching, whether your table is crowded or quiet. May you know that your life is held in the hands of a God who wants the best for you. May your next birthday be filled with more joy than sorrow, and may the year ahead carry you gently into healing, hope, and deeper peace.
Sending you love and every blessing,
