A Night of Humbled Hearts at the Table
I don’t usually write about myself.
Honestly, I don’t like it — I don’t enjoy attention, and I’d rather tell stories about what God is doing through others than anything that happens to me.
But this time was different.
What happened last night wasn’t really about me anyway — it was about what God can do in the middle of something as ordinary as a birthday.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”
— James 4:10 (ESV)
An Unexpected Celebration
Today was my birthday — and I would’ve been happy to keep it quiet.
But as we set up our Thursday table, my wife had other plans.
She had gathered some dear friends, and before I could stop them, they showed up with streamers and cupcakes.
And right there, in the middle of our setup, they started singing Happy Birthday.
I loved the gesture.
I hated the attention.
But then something happened that I’ll never forget.
A Different Kind of Birthday
Our regulars — the same people we’ve served week after week — started joining in.
They sang, clapped, and smiled.
One by one, they came over to give me hugs — more than I’ve probably ever received on any birthday before.
Some prayed with me and for me.
Some just kept repeating “Happy Birthday”, like the words themselves carried joy.
A few quietly said, “I haven’t been to a birthday party in a long time.”
That broke me.
Because in that moment, I realized: the people we serve were now the ones giving.
They gave love. They gave laughter. They gave belonging.
“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over…”
— Luke 6:38 (ESV)
The Body at Work
It was humbling — and holy.
Because that’s what the body of Christ really looks like:
the poor blessing the giver,
the broken comforting the strong,
the weary reminding us what joy looks like.
We talk so often about serving others, but last night, I was the one served.
Not with presents or parties — but with hugs, prayers, and the raw love of God expressed through the most unexpected people.
And I realized — it wasn’t my birthday being celebrated.
It was His grace being revealed.
“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
— 1 Corinthians 12:27 (ESV)
A Final Word
I’ve always dreaded birthdays.
But this one — this one changed something in me.
It reminded me that God meets us in the simplest moments — in laughter under streetlights, in cupcakes handed out by strangers, in hugs from people who’ve known too much pain and still choose joy.
So yes — best birthday ever.
Not because it was about me, but because it wasn’t.
It was about us — the body of Christ, alive and loving at the table.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
— Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
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