The birth of a child in any family is always a source of joy, happiness and satisfaction with feelings of fulfillment. Mothers and fathers regard such an event as a blessing from Almighty God – the Creator. It is a blessing when couples reproduce and continue a cycle in which the child of today may be the parent and even grand-parent in the years ahead. This is reflected at family reunions where there is a mixture of different generations.
Birth Anniversaries become an important calendar in the events of life and as the years progress, the milestones are recognized in various ways depending on the circumstances prevailing.
The journey along life’s way, indeed our earthly life, leads to an inevitable end called ‘Death’. While the celebrations of a birth and the grief of a death are very contrasting, both anniversaries stimulate a variety of thoughts and evoke many emotions.
The birth of a child strengthens the family bond and leads parents into recognizing and accepting new responsibilities. Those include providing love, care, attention and guidance in preparing the new born for a blessed productive and rewarding life.
With each birthday, new situations develop. Parents would remember teaching a child to walk; the first utterance of the sound of ‘mama’ or ‘dada’ when they were elated by the child’s recognition which encompassed love. Parents then started to look with hope and confidence at the years ahead.
Time marches on so quickly and the stages of baby, little child of school age, pupil, teenager will surface with the changes. Yet each birthday is a happy one with its significance. The milestones may show various stages of education – primary, secondary, tertiary, and even a major change in their civil status. That is when they decide to get married and like their parents, grand parents and great grand parents, start their own family life.
In relation to Death Anniversaries there is always a mixture of pleasant reflections on the good times shared which seem more precious in looking back, and that of sadness and inner grief for the loss of a loved one. Yet, through darkened clouds and sometimes clear skies, we see not only the love of those who have died but our very own lives.
In that state of mind, with Hope in our hearts and Faith in God, we wonder what lies ahead. What will the future bring? Life then continues with greater recognition of realities and the need for purposeful living.
Horatius Bonar on the subject of life, stated:
Life is a journey, not a home; a road, not a city of habitation; and the enjoyments and blessings we have are but little inns on the roadside of life, where we may be refreshed for a moment, that we may with new strength press on to the end – to the rest that remaineth for the people of God.
Tis not for man to trifle; life is brief, and sin is here. We have no time to sport away the hours; all must be earnest in a world like ours.”
Another interesting statement on the earthly life was made by Benjamin Franklin.
In looking back at life and at himself in particular he stated:
When I reflect, as I frequently do, upon the felicity I have enjoyed, I sometimes say to myself, that, were the offer made me, I would engage to run again, from beginning to end, the same career of life. All I would ask, should be the privilege of an author, to correct in a second edition, certain errors of the first.”
Like so many of you, who with respect and love, observe Death Anniversaries, I have been doing so decades ago. In the month of January, I lost my father. More recently also in the month of January my mother died. In the month of February 2007, my elder brother Oscar passed away, and the worst wound was in the month of March, also in 2007, when my son Hank, just 27 years old, died on the 7th and was buried on the 12th.
Like so many of my relatives, friends, colleagues and neighbours, Death Anniversaries awaken all sorts of emotions. But in the same way as you do, I acknowledge the spiritual strength and comfort which flow to our receptive heart and mind from Almighty God. In that process we are compelled to think of our own lives which are fading away. Knowing death the inevitable end will come, compels us to take stock of our lives and to bring purpose and meaning to it in our everyday relationship.
Therein, we can think of our legacy and in a special way, be unselfish, less materialistic and cultivate a spirit of love, kindness, generosity and righteousness.
It is my view that we ought to commemorate Death Anniversaries with thanks to God for his many Blessings and Goodness, especially in placing in our lives, persons who loved and cared for us and appreciated the Love we showered on them.
FOR OUR LOVED ONES, THERE OUGHT TO BE HAPPY BIRTH ANNIVERSARIES AND SACRED DEATH ANNIVERSARIES.
