Birthday Week
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Romans 15:1-6 NIV )
It is birthday week in my family. Perhaps you have a single week in your family when several birthdays cluster together. My grandmother, my sister and one of my daughters were all born in the first week of August. As children my sister and I argued about who had the worst birthday. She complained about a summer birthday because we were often travelling, and she often had to share the celebration with my grandmother. You may know that clergy families typically don’t vacation over Christmas or Easter breaks and so we typically spent the first week of August in Oklahoma, Arkansas or Texas visiting family. Even if we were home, potential birthday party guests might be on vacation, too. My birthday sometimes falls on Thanksgiving Day. Birthday dinner was often roast turkey, or leftovers rather than the birthday girl’s pick. And my sister and I each got new snow boots or some other winter necessity for MY birthday. How unfair it felt to each of us in the moments we focused on own desires. Yet, when we are generous and focus on the needs of others, somehow gratitude floods our souls. This, I think, is part of what we pray for
when we echo Paul’s words, in Romans 15 when he offers the blessing, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Let us glorify God with a Christly attitude toward one another. Often, I offer my prayers in a song. Will you sing with me?
The Servant Song (#2222) in The Faith We Sing (Words and music by Richard Gillard, 1977)
Brother, sister, let me serve you,
let me be as Christ to you;
pray that I might have the grace
to let you be my servant, too.
We are pilgrims on a journey;
we’re together on this road.
We are here to help each other
walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ light for you
in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping;
when you laugh, I'll laugh with you
I will share your joy and sorrow
till we've seen this journey through.
Will you let me be your servant,
let me be as Christ to you;
pray that I might have the grace
to let you be my servant too.