I have a picture of my grandmother hanging on the wall in my living room. It’s a picture of her on her First Communion day. She’s so little and cute, it’s hard for me to see the adult Nana I knew so well in that picture.

I have many wonderful memories of my Nana, but I do remember clearly that she didn’t like to celebrate her birthday. She thought it was “nonsense” to celebrate an “old lady.” And any gifts we gave her she would open, hand back to us and say – “I don’t really need that, you can have it.” When I look at her First Communion picture I wonder, did my young, little girl Nana, hate birthdays as a child? Or did she love them the way most children do? I loved mine, and my own kids love theirs. In fact, I have a daughter who, when she was smaller, counted down the days beginning with just “364 days left to my birthday!” Why, as we get older, does the excitement of our “Big Day” wane?

This weekend we celebrate Pentecost, the birthday of the church. Pentecost commemorates the day Jesus gave His people the BEST gift of all – the Gift of the Holy Spirit! When we unwrap this miraculous gift, we are filled with joy! We become confident that Jesus is indeed alive in our hearts and lives.

But much like birthdays of old, we forget about the excitement and passion the Apostles had at the birth of the church. We have forgotten that the Holy Spirit that came down on the early church members is the SAME Holy Spirit that comes into our lives! We just have to ask Him and be open to receive.

Have you forgotten? Forgotten that Jesus wants to know YOU in a deeply personal way? Wants to give you peace and joy? Well, there’s no better time to remember than Pentecost. Take some time this weekend and talk to God. Invite Him in. Unwrap the gift of the Spirit. Heck, have some cake while you’re at it. After all, what’s a birthday without cake?!

-Justine Dufour