Summary

Anniversaries Word on the Week 3rd May 2025.
In the Winnie-the-Pooh story, The House at Pooh Corner, Eeyore the donkey, asks "But after all, what are birthdays?". This question is followed by the phrase "Here today and gone tomorrow," reflecting Eeyore's pessimistic view of life and the transient nature of time, including birthdays.
Eeyore’s dismay comes from finding his patch of thistles trodden down; he explains, “I was keeping them for my birthday”! Why is there always a spoiler? We have a longing but we are not in heaven yet!
"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven; a time to be born and a time to die" (Ecclesiastes 3:1/2). Even those unfortunate people born on 29th February manage to celebrate annually overcoming the anomaly!
This week saw the birth of our 4th great grandchild! Percival Ronald Angus arrived, amid much rejoicing, in good time on the 30th April. The Psalmist recognises this as a special blessing (Psalm 128 verse 6).
Of course some people are coy about their age. I had an aunt who fell into that category. Wild horses could not drag it from her! Her secret remained with her till her death. The annual birthday card was blank!
Our contrary natures are often reflected in our attitude to the passage of time. When we are young, time seems to pass slowly. We cannot wait till we are older. We want it now!
As the years go by time seems to speed up and we wish we were young again! If only we could enter a second time into Mother’s womb and make a new start retaining, of course, what we had learned the first time!
Perhaps these thoughts were in Nicodemus’s head in his well known after hours’ interview with Jesus (John 3 verse 3). It was dark as he did not want his quest for salvation to be known. After all he was a Pharisee and on the Ruling Council. It would be embarrassing if he were seen to be looking for help from Jesus!
To be told that no-one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again added to his confusion. Jesus explained that it was a spiritual birth. It took place, following repentance for sins committed, removing the heart of stone and replacing it with a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36 verse 26).
Nicodemus embraced Jesus' teaching, became a follower and with Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus (John 19 verse 39). He also had a new birthday! The day he received God’s gift (John 3 verse 16).