Birthday

    As I sat down to write this blog, my mom came up to me with a Croma bag and I was surprised to find a brand new phone for me. I was ecstatic! This was one of the few times I felt seen and happy, not because someone went through the pain of getting me a phone, only cause I wanted one. But because I had been needing a new phone for the longest time now. It's not only about the gesture, it's about the thought. They actually remembered that I had desperately needed a new phone because I was struggling with my old one. They had marked when I asked for a new phone and actually got it for my birthday. And it was none other than my own blood, my brother. That was one of the few gifts I was really thankful for that day. I went up and hugged my brother for buying me something I couldn't have afforded for another few months myself.

    My birthday went really well that day and I was really grateful to a lot of people. Firstly, to God. I couldn't have spent a better birthday than praising and worshipping God all day. I spent the day being helpful to my friends at our Church's youth fellowship competition. It was the first event our Church has ever organized and a lot of Churches from all over Chennai came to participate. The theme of the competition was 'Rooted in Christ,' and I helped by being a part of the PPT presentation team. We started the day by practicing songs and I even recorded my friend playing the guitar. She looked really cool playing it!

Then, we welcomed our Youth Convenor, Dr. Devasitham, who organized the whole thing with the help of officials from the Church. We spent the whole day running around, setting up stuff for competitions and helping out where we could, even if it was a little bit. Although we couldn't make it look perfect, we definitely did what God intended us to do: to spread His name and praise Him for His glory.

    Coming to the competition also helped me reconnect with my cousins and reminisce about old memories we shared in the same Church. It felt good to experience that hidden nostalgia once again. We then spent the entire evening worshipping God and singing His praise loudly with our hearts raised to Him. I felt genuinely happy. We ended the day with the valedictory and everyone sang a happy birthday song for me, which made my face red. I was thankful to everyone for giving me the opportunity. I opened up the presents I had received and they all made me genuinely happy.

    My special someone even gifted me a Hotwheels set before going abroad!

    This birthday couldn't have been better. I even remembered the time my friends set up a surprise birthday cake-cutting session a week ago. I was thankful to God for blessing me with such genuine people in my life who constantly pray for my well-being. I was also thankful for having such amazing parents. I can't wait to have another fruitful year ahead!