50 Years Ago (11/24/2023)

I distinctly remember this day 50 years ago. It was our middle daughter’s 1st birthday. We had a small party for her with just our small family of 4 plus my mother who had traveled from Sioux City to care for my two oldest children while I was in the hospital for our youngest. We have pictures of her birthday cupcake and her hands and face covered with icing. Her smile made up for the mess. We celebrated at 11 a.m. and then settled the two toddlers down for a nap before going to the hospital to have our son. Our family grew to 5 that day before 3 p.m. This morning, a little after 5, I texted my two kids “happy birthday” wishes. These two share a day, but what makes me smile is that they have grown to share so much more.

This is one of my favorite days of the year because it reminds me of how awesome our LORD, giver of life, is. Today we celebrate Kirsten, born in St. Paul in 1972 and Kirk, born in Beloit, in 1973. They, and their sister, Kendra, born in Sioux City in 1971, share a bond that grows stronger by the year. They share their memories, and I must admit, that is one of my favorite things to witness. The moments usually begin with, “Do you remember…?” and then all three of them get into sharing mode.

They’ve always shared well. I attribute it to telling them from a young age that they had to share. My husband and I could afford few toys in the early years; so what toys we had, they all shared “nicely.” In time, they each found their favorites, and I was pleased to see how well each honored the other’s “favorites.” They looked out for one another; they still do.

As I thank the LORD for the kids and for their love of one another and bond, I must admit I think more broadly to all of us. We are sisters and brothers as well, daughters and sons of the one Almighty Father. We are disciples of the one Son of God, Jesus Christ, who gave His life for the salvation of all of us. We share a common source, a common root, and we share a common journey’s destination, union with our loving LORD. What if we focused on those things we share, those things which we have in common, rather than on what makes us different? Could seeing one another truly as sisters and brothers regardless of language or location help us to form that bond that the LORD desires for us, that unity and diversity in perfect tension?

This day, let us commit to finding “common ground” with one another. Let us search our hearts and minds for the loving thread woven into us by our Creator. Let us commit to choosing love and working for unity in our world, in our communities, in our families. Let us be filled by the Spirit for a desire for peace and the conviction to be a “channel of that peace.”

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.