My birthday falls on Ash Wednesday this year. It’s a little weird to fast on my birthday, and yet in its own way it’s rather nice.
One reason I fast is to remind myself that I’m a creature of God… and that’s a good thing to remember on the day I was born. I fast to remind myself that every morsel I’ve ever eaten is a gift from the father, and that’s a good thing to recall today, too. I fast to offer Christ a little sacrifice, and my hunger reminds me of the big sacrifice he made for me. That’s an excellent thing to have in the forefront of my mind as I start a new year.
I don’t need to eat cake to appreciate a birthday gift. Especially when the gift I’ve been given is all these years of life, and all these years of faith.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Thanks, Lord.
