As with many folks, there seems to be a time of year in my life when a good number of my immediate or extended family members celebrate a birthday.  For me, March is the month.  My mom and one sister, my nephew and my son all mark the passing of another year in this month, and as I spend a few special moments on the telephone or writing a message on a birthday card, I am reminded how special these people are to me.  They are special not simply because they are relatives, but because they are important members of my life.  Their presence in this world has made my life more joyous, more fulfilling and more significant. 

     Being a long way from home sometimes heightens the sense of longing I have to see these people once again, but it also prompts me to take advantage of the wonderful moment that is called the present.  You see, living for the beauty of the present is an idea that slows down the march of time.  Certainly one could regret missing birthdays or fret over long distance relationships, but one could also choose to do the opposite.  He or she could write a special note, call to say “I love you,” or rejoice in a prayer for loved ones.  In reality, so much of how we handle the circumstances of our lives is determined by our attitudes. 

     The month of March brings with it a festive day called St. Patrick’s Day, which reflects a similar joyous attitude.  Little leprechauns chase pots o’ gold, everybody wears green, and the rainbow symbolizes a promise for a new day, and in this festival is a lesson: “Enjoy the moment because time Marches on.”  Birthdays come and birthdays go.  They are a part of the cycle of life.  We really don’t get to choose how many we will have, but we do get to choose how many we will celebrate!  My prayer for us all this month is that we will choose joy, even as time Marches on.