Welcome to Spiritual Journey (first) Thursday, hosted here today. This month we’re exploring the topic “special days.” Following my thoughts, below, is a widget where you can leave the link to your post.
Somebody’s turning seven! (Photo © 2018 by V. Nesdoly)
The look on the face of my four-year-old granddaughter—of excitement, anticipation, I’m-ready-for-the-spotlight—said it all. This was her special day.
It doesn’t take long for kids to realize that not every cake with candles and pile of presents is for them. How quickly they learn to let the special person of the day blow out the candles and, hard as it is, open all the presents.
But today was our little four-year-old’s birthday and the expression on her face, even though seen only on video, showed that she knew it was her turn.
I think it’s a great thing to celebrate each person one day a year. In our family we do that on the anniversary of their birth (birthday). Letting the child choose the food for a special meal, the guests to invite for a party, the party theme and decorations, the destination if the activity is an outing are ways to appreciate and affirm each little and bigger one.
We are all created in the image of God as one-of-a-kind beings. What a privilege and joy it is, then, to acknowledge this by giving each person entrusted to us, especially in the family unit, a day of celebration.
Special Day
Each year we celebrate Valentine’s Day
giving our hearts as a present.
Hearts gifted back make us feel special.
Other days we circle too, as special:
Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas day
occasions we want all to be present.
But there is no other like the one I now present
a different date for each of us to feel special
our cake, candles, make-a-wish Birthday!
The day we celebrate the present of each special self.
© 2018 by Violet Nesdoly (All rights reserved)
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Now it’s your turn! Please leave your link with Mister Linky.
Violet Nesdoly / poems 
haitiruth
May 3, 2018 at 2:54 am
Thanks for hosting! I love your tritina. Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
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Violet Nesdoly
May 3, 2018 at 11:28 am
Thanks so much, Ruth!
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Alice Nine
May 3, 2018 at 4:51 am
Thank you for hosting, Violet. Birthdays are indeed uniquely special, to be celebrated. I loved creating traditions with my kids for their birthdays and now watching them create them with their children. I love the wonder on a child’s face when the candles are lit.
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Violet Nesdoly
May 3, 2018 at 11:14 am
Thanks, Alice! That wonder on a child’s face is what inspired my thoughts today. You have blessed grandkids to have traditions created for them by you!
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cvarsalona
May 3, 2018 at 7:35 am
I celebrate your family’s traditions, Violet. Little children anticipate their birthdays with glee. we do that for all in our family just like many families do. Thanks for honoring your blog post with a wonderful poem and the space for all of us to come together.
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Irene Latham
May 3, 2018 at 12:10 pm
The present of each special self… I love these pictures so much! Thank you, Violet. xo
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Dani Burtsfield
May 3, 2018 at 6:06 pm
Beautiful, Violet! The expressions on your granddaughter’s face are priceless! They remind me of many, many birthday celebrations we had in our house over four daughters. Those memories are so precious, aren’t they?
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Violet Nesdoly
May 4, 2018 at 6:06 am
Thank you, Dani! Actually, the photo is of my grandson when he turned 7(a few years ago). The story is of my granddaughter, and the expression I saw on her face when she turned four this spring via images my daughter put on social media.
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Donna Smith
May 3, 2018 at 6:25 pm
Yes, “The day we celebrate the present of each special self.” Beautiful!
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Violet Nesdoly
May 4, 2018 at 6:22 am
Thanks, Donna!
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origamiextravaganza88888888
May 4, 2018 at 8:30 pm
Hi Violet: Thank you for this lovely post. I apologize for not showing up on time, but I have had the blessing of two grandkids this week, plus the two more and the parents showing up last night and staying until this evening. I love them all, and I am exhausted! We celebrate, we love, we rest.
Blessings
Karen
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Violet Nesdoly
May 5, 2018 at 6:18 am
How lovely for you, Karen! What a good reason to be exhausted.”We celebrate, we love, we rest.” Love that. Yes indeed!
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