I hesitate to say, “It’s my birthday” because, well, merely soliciting “Congrats!” responses seems rather pointless. And, being an essayist, I always feel like I should have a point. But then, even as I type this, I realize I do.
It’s the very question implicit in my embarrassment at writing this post: Should I celebrate my own birth? My knee-jerk response, despite the fact that I’m inherently self-absorbed (i.e. a writer), is, “No, too self-absorbed!” But upon reflection, it occurs to me that this may, in fact, be one of the few occasions when it’s actually appropriate for me to celebrate myself.
I mean, there are still so many things I’m trying to fix about myself (there, you see how self-absorbed I am?), especially the one Big Thing behind all the little things—what the theologians call my “sin nature.” And yet, despite all these things. I really am glad I was born.
Why?
Because I love existing. I love having constant opportunities to grow. I love being able to love–others, that is, even if I’m sometimes rather bad at it, and, yes, even myself. But most of all, I love existing, so that I can love my Creator.
Therefore, ahem, thank you God, for giving me all of these things to do and to love. And, today at least, thank you for that first thing that made my doing all these other things possible: Thank you for, you know,
Me.
Happy birthday, Mitch.
Thank you, Trev.
Happy birthday, Mitch! My birthday was just last week, so happy birthday to me too 🙂 Would love to talk over a cup of coffee some day since I believe we are both in the same town. – Bill
Ah, that’s right. I’d like that, Bill. And a belated Happy Birthday to you!
Of course, the thing you don’t mention here is that you are a gift to so many, so you should allow us to send birthday greetings and thank you for what you do, for who you are and for the things God has given you to do. I wish you a Happy Birthday and thank our God for you.
Aw, bless you, Gail.
Well I have to hand it to you Mitch, that is a first and I might add, I think you did rather well! Loved the logic you used and your summation was superb! So I will join with the many best wishes that will be forthcoming and celebrate, you know … you! Happy Birthday!
;>) Thanks, Bruce!
Happy Birthday to you!
Thank you, Sharon!
Happy birthday 🎂
Thank you.
You’re welcome
Happy Birthday, Mitch! Why not celebrating the own birthday? Live was given to you! Michael
Thanks, Michael!
With a great pleasure, Mitch! What a wonderful cake. Enjoy a beautiful day, and a nice week! Michael
Happy birthday, Mitch! I am very glad you were born because you reflect your creator in such a magnificently unique way 💕
Aw, thank you, dear Kara.
Yes, you’re a gift to us! I haven’t followed you very long, but when your very name pops up, I feel a grin coming on.
;>) Thanks, Joy.
Happy birthday. Mine was yesterday. Forgot we were so closely related.
My birthday is in two days (we were our mothers’ Mothers Day gifts). I live alone and have no nearby relatives, but I intend to celebrate. Two years ago (before the China stuff) I invited friends over for a brunch and donation to a church in Jerusalem. Lots of people came. Last year, I went to see friends when we were all supposed to stay inside. I took along a light bench, set it on their front porch, rang their doorbell, and we visited through their screen door. Made it to six friends’ houses.. Then I drove to the front door of a grocery store and rolled down my window with a $20 in my hand. A lady who worked there came over and I told her it was my 80th birthday and I wanted a little birthday cake. She went in, got it, delivered it, and I went home determined to eat it all. Gave up half way through. But it was a good day. I still haven’t decided what to do for myself this year; have 2 days to come to a decision. But it will be a good day. And in one way or another, I will celebrate me.
Thanks, Katheryn, and wishing you a wonderful birthday whatever you do!
The other 364 days I devote to reaching out to Muslims. But, this is my day.
Many happy returns of the day dear,God bless you abundantly.💐🎂🎶🌷🌹👌👏🎺🎸🍜🎹🎷💗
Thank you, Francis.
My pleasure.🌹🙏
Mitch
Happy Birthday!
I am sure you know you share today with comedian George Carlin, skateboarder Tony Hawk and two of the stars from The Usual Suspects movie.
Brad
;>) Yep. Thanks, Brad.
God is celebrating with you. Enjoy the milestone.
Aw, thanks, Andrew.
LOL! I once changed my winter birthday to a Spring date. Everybody then celebrated me twice. 😄 Happy Birthday! I’m glad you are here in the world with us.
Thank you twice!
Happy Birthday!
Thanks!
I’m a believer in always celebrating birthdays! And birthday cakes. 😉
Happy Birthday, Mitch!
Thank you, PG!
You’re welcome!
Myself, my precious stepdaughter, my dear aunt, and my best friend, a lovely Navajo lady, all celebrated the day of our birth during the first week of this month. It was unanimously agreed among the four of us that May Babies are Best. 😀
Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday, Dear Mitch….
And Many More, Too! ❤
Happy birthday to Us!
Happy Birthday Mitch 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁
Thanks, John!
You are a fearful and wonderful miracle of God’s personal handiwork, and VERY much worth celebrating. Happy Birthday, Mitch!
Thank you so much, Patty.
Happy Birthday, Mitch. 🎉I had mine last Friday. Yay to Tauruses🎉
That’s a lotta bull. ;>) Thanks, Erika!
Haha, yes, bull power 😄
Mine was in April….Ram on! 🐏😊
At least horns, right 😂
Yes, and horns in one definition means power. ♈♉
Absolutely!
A celebration of YOU is a celebration of the one who created Mitch, but you said it in such a Mitch style and fun way! Happy Birthday! I hope you are blessed with many more repeats of this milestone to let the joy of Christ shine through you.
Aw, thank you, Manette.
I’m glad you’re here another day, Mitch! Happy Birthday! 🥳🙌👏
Thanks, dear Tre.
You’re welcome!
Happy Birthday!
Thanks, River!
You’re welcome.
Well, duh! In gratitude for your gift of life from God as well as parents, of course! The more the merrier! And many of your family, friends, and followers would join you in the celebrations! Besides, what’s not to celebrate about the awesome gift of life?!
I recommend extending the time of celebration for as much as a month for BIG (x0) birthdays too, and if they’re REALLY big, throwing a party for yourself (as I did at 40 & 50), inviting people from all your communities and family branches to attend and get to know each other. It’s a great way for them to find out that they both know you, or to get acquainted and network. It’s especially helpful in uniting those who don’t know Jesus to those who do, and vice versa.
Besides, if you just ask them to bring shareable food, and have one group or another decorate, the expense doesn’t have to be high, and no one will be bored since you have an eclectic group of friends and family to chat and learn from each other.
Rejoicing that you’re alive, convinced others are too, grateful our paths crossed on earth, glad for your ongoing impact in our Father’s world, and anticipating with joy the eventual celebration together in the Throne Room!
Amen to that, Anne!
The first time I read “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), I thought it a little odd and self-congratulatory. But I get it – “YOU … MADE…” This is not about the creature but the Creator. (Happy birthday!)
Thanks, dear sister.
May 12th was my mother’s birthday too – so here ya go, whether you want Congrats or not!! 😉
https://pacificparatrooper.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/herzlichen-glueckwunsch-0001.gif
Thanks, GP!
Happy Birthday, Mitch! Hope it’s a wonderful one. 🙂
Thank you, Flow!
You should always congratulate yourself! After all you are a masterpiece in the making. Happy Birthday Mitch.
Thank you.
I won’t say it Mitch…but thumbs up!…Oh what the hey…Happy Birthday Mitch!
Thanks, Max!
super mario bros
Yep.
got a nannybird cake
!
compare mario with nannybird
Well, one has a moustache. How would you compare them, Rudy?
Happy birthday!
Thank you, Beth!
Hi Mitch,
Lots of reasons to be thankful for life. It is a gift and you have a second on to boot.
Happy Birthday,
Gary
I do indeed, my friend.
Happy birthday!!! That cake is AMAZING
Thanks, M.B.!
Happy birthday, Mitch! I too celebrate the day of my birth, but more out a sense of wonder and surprise that people have let me live this long. It can only be through the providence of God, because I’m not easy to deal with on a good day. 😇
;>) Thanks, Jimmy.
You’re welcome. Enjoy your day.
Happy Birthday Mitch 🌈
Thank you.
Happy birthday Mitch – I hope you have a wonderful day!
Thank you, Terri!
Happy natal celebration day.
Thanks, Rocky!
I hesitate to say it as well, and yet it is…
Looks like we have something in common!
Happy Birthday Mitch!
Your birthday too, Nadine? Thanks!
Yes, it is! Lol
I hope you had an extremely enjoyable day 😊
Well, then Happy Birthday to YOU!
Wish you a beautiful journey of self-discovery.
Happy Birthday Mitch! I only have time to follow a limited number of blogs but I follow yours religiously! Thank you and you are definitely worth celebrating!
Uh-oh. ;>) Thanks, Gregory!
Happy Birthday, Mitch! You have every reason to celebrate!!
Thank you, dear Liz.
You’re welcome, Mitch.
I hope you enjoyed celebrating your birthday, Mitch! God bless.
You too, Lynn.
Happy birthday, Mitch. Enjoy ya day
That’s right Mitch. You were fearfully and wonderfully made….so yes, celebrate the wonder full self that was knitted in your mother’s womb by the loving hands of the Creater of all life. 🎂🎁🕇❤
Thank you, Susan.
You’re welcome!
A blessed Birthday Mitch! May GOD inspire you more as you continue writing and producing films and articles for His glory! Keep on sharing funny posts too! Nice looking Mario cake!🎊🍰🍻🎶 🙂
Thanks, Gersom! (No credit due to me for the cake, btw–just found it online.)
Shades of Walt Whitman: you celebrate yourself to sing yourself. And well you should! Hope you’re having a lovely day.
Cheers!
Annie
Yep, I sing the body eclectic (with apologies to Walt). Thanks, Annie!
You should! Happy birthday Mitch! May God richly bless every area of your life xx
Thank you, and you too, Janet!
Belated Happy birthday Mitch🎉Loved the post.
Thank you, Veena!
Happy Birthday, Taurus. I don’t like celebrating my birthday – always get too excited and then upset. Nothing has changed since I was 7 years old…
;>) Thanks, Kerry.
Happy birthday young man🎈🎉🎂❤️
;>) Thanks, young lady.
Thanks for making my day.
Happy birthday, Mitch. I hope you had an amazing day full of love, happiness, and cake!
Well, no cake, but love and happiness, yes. Thanks, Kate!
Happy belated birthday Mitch, love your positive energy and humor.
Thank you, Jaja.
Happy belated birthday, Mitch! You can celebrate that you’ve moved on from just existing to purposeful living as God intended for you. You’ve taken advantage of opportunities to grow into the person he designed you to be. And you express his love to those around you. Celebrate the progress from year to year!
I will, Nancy!
Happy birthday, Mitch! It’s always good to have an opportunity to celebrate oneself; we all deserve it from time to time, and what’s a better occasion than birthday?
Thanks, Ola!
Happy Birthday 🎂
Happy Birthday 🥳
Thank you, Crissy.
I kinda have missed the point of celebrating my birthday. Mainly because I don’t think I have accomplished much or changed at all. Every year is the same unless I change something. But then again, if there’s an event of accomplishment or change, I can celebrate it anytime, it doesn’t have to be on my birthday
When I do celebrate my birthday, I usually celebrate it myself by eating something fancier or beyond my standard fare. That is enough for me~
But then again, happy birthday 👏
;>) Thanks, Arys. https://mitchteemley.com/2020/09/28/the-purpose-of-your-life/
Belated happy birthday, Mitch!! 😁May you continue to exist 100 birthdays more😁
That would be quite an accomplishment. ;>). Thanks, Lax!
Happy Birthday! That was a very interesting and introspective post. All good points, and now I have a better understanding of why we celebrate birthdays. Very cool, sir!
Thanks, Tim.
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Happy Birthday, Mitch 🌻
Thank you!
Happy birthday, Mitch!
Thanks. Jennie!
You’re welcome, Mitch!
Happy birthday to you✨!
Thank you, Divya!
My birthday is Tuesday and I think the same every year lol
Happy birthday 🎉
Thank you, BZA, and Happy birthday to you!
Ofcourse you should celebrate and a very happy belated birthday 🥳🥳🥳
Thank you.
Rather than celebrate my birth, I look ahead and make fantastic plans ⛵🏕️🗻
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Celebrating the gift of life is a great thing. Happy birthday! 🎂🎈
Thank you, JoAnn!
Nothing arrogant or self aggrandizing about celebrating one’s own birth but especially meaningful to have lived a life wherein others celebrate it too even beyond your own death.
Happy Belated Birthday, Mitch!
Thanks, Meonn!
Happy birthday Mitch! I hope it was great! 🎉
Thanks! Yes, it was terrific.
Me, I celebrate cake on those days… I otherwise tend to forget how old I am but the blaze is getting bigger so… 🙂
;>)
HAPPY belated BIRTHDAY! And now…you can wish me one lol It was 5/23 😉
Happy belated, Kathy!
☺️thank you ☺️
Enjoy your birthday with your sweetheart when it comes round this and the following year(s)!
You are always brief and to the point!
For someone who didn’t see the point in soliciting happy birthday wishes, you garnered quite a few f them. Nothing wrong with that. We celebrate your birthday because this world would be far less fun without you. Happy belated birthday, Mitch.❤️
Aw, bless you, Kathy.🧡