Thank You

August 21- 80^th Birthday Celebration

“Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and

may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless...”

(1Thessalonians 5:23)

            Hi all. Please know that today on my 80^th birthday I am thinking of YOU. My “Good News Buddies”, Facebook Friends, God Is My Spinach Page and Blog followers…every one of you. Today will be special with June and family, it has been a great ride. You all help me every day keep in focus that happiness is what is important.

From August 21^st in God Is My Spinach.

            From the early 1980’s through the late 90’s we hosted Pick’s birthday run and cookout. The guests were truly a diverse group, economically, religiously and socially. The bond of physical fitness crossed all lines. (We also had the desire for good food and a party!). There were opportunities for the differences to show through, but none were apparent. This is the group that helped June and I start a charity event in 1989 that had 12,000 plus attendees on Thanksgiving 20 years later.

            If you are a relative of friend of mine, you probably have received special attention on your birthday. June, my wife, dreads what I may do next. She does not like surprises, and we have had a few. Other friends have been taken on mystery rides, special lunches, walks etc. You see, everyday each of us is special but one day a year we are “extra special.” Two days ago, I used the following passage from John, “Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:17) The bible does not say not to love yourself. On this one special day, love yourself as Christ loved you.

You have earned it.

Thought for Today: Love is a world leader. When it exists, people are happy and successful.

When love is not present, everyone suffers. Let us search for opportunities to convert our

anxious moments into positive events. Let us recognize resentments, jealousies and other negative forces and cast them aside with a loving heart.

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, today we give thanks for friends. We find them everywhere we look; all colors, shapes, sizes, nationalities and faiths. Through your love we cannot see the differences. We are blessed.

Amen