Of paper crowns + special days

I remember the anticipation, the countdown.

The day would arrive, I’d wake with enthusiasm and proudly put on my paper crown for the day.

Birthday paper crowns were a special thing from my childhood —each lovingly made by my sweet mom.

I wore it unashamedly, feeling every bit the princess of the day. I even recall wearing it to a the much anticipated dinners out with dad, proudly walking through the restaurant knowing everyone knew that it was my special day.

This morning on the couch Zach and I held a conversation of the let down we often feel as adults when a special day arrives and our expectations are not met.

We would never be so bold as to wear a paper crown, yet the attitude we carry with us through the day is nearly as visible as a crown upon our head.

We shrug our shoulders and say “ah, it’s just another day!” And yet each small task becomes a bitter chore that we feel we are suddenly overqualified for on such a day as this.

You see, as adults, we are very good at sabotosing our own special days.

Mother’s day comes around and we suddenly bear the weight of a victim perspective on our lot in life.

A birthday is just another opportunity to grumble inwardly at the unfairness of life.

The problem?

We all want a birthday crown - or at least the significance it holds.

We want to be special. We want to be applauded. We want to be…self-absorbed.

Because a day that’s meant to celebrate you is the perfect day to excuse an inward focus.

But what if instead of taking these special days as an excuse to become self-absorbed, we instead took them as an opportunity to count up all the good.

Today I am 28 years old.

I now have 28 years to look back on and remember the goodness of my God.

That’s over 10,000 days of breath in my lungs.

10,000 days of friendships being made.

10,000 days of traveling to new places and experiencing beauty.

10,000 days of memories to look back on.

10,000 days of hard lessons that have grown me and given me beautiful treasures.

Gratitude. Gratitude is what transforms us, and birthdays are an open invitation to spend a day thanking Jesus.

So today, make a list of all the good.

On your next birthday —celebrate the day by thinking back on all the good, writing it down, reading old journals, breathing out prayers of gratitude all day long.

I think you’ll likely find it to be the best way to spend a day because gratitude is always the seed to joy.