September 24, 2018 (Monday)
I’m having another birthday today. Here is a very old picture of me on my birthday. I think this was my fifth birthday, and I’m guessing that I’m holding a birthday cake, or a slice of birthday cake. That’s not clear. If it was my fifth birthday, I was still a pre-schooler, the year was 1936 and the location was the corner of Noble and Davis streets in Houston’s Northside.
This picture was taken in the heart of the Great Depression. I look happy, don’t I? Thousands of kids like me in those days did not seem to be aware of the dire times in which we were growing up. Kids are kids, in the best of times and the worst of times.
The store in the background, a block away from our house, was typical of little stores all over town. This was long before supermarkets, and every little neighborhood had at least one corner store. You walked in, told the storekeeper what you wanted, item by item, and he or she would find it for you and put it on the counter. When all the choices were made, the prices were added up, and the customer either paid cash or said, “Please put it on my bill.” Credit cards were not available back then. (The first universal credit card, which could be used at a variety of establishments, was introduced in 1950).
I expected to feel different on my 21st birthday, but when I woke up that day, I felt the same as I did when I went to sleep. Thankfully, the birthdays keep coming. I say “thankfully,” because we all know the alternative to more birthdays is no more birthdays.
I feel pretty good most of the time, but I have a few age-related issues. I remember talking with one of the older members of the church some years ago when I was attempting to enlist a group of senior citizens to go to Zephyr Baptist Encampment for a few days. He explained to me why people were not responding to my invitation by saying, “Pastor, old people has lots of ailments.” Now I know what he was talking about, but I’m in good shape for the shape I’m in. After all, this is my 87th birthday.
We don’t know when Jesus is coming for us, so let us serve the Lord together and enjoy life. Happy next Birthday to all of you.