Today has been a truly blessed day for me.

I turned ?? today ( a girl never tells her true age–as she smiles) and my day started as always with a prayer of gratitude to God for waking me up as I turned the phone ringer off for some quiet time before I started my day.

It is day #5 of my annual fasting & prayer time and I am truly engaged and enjoying this time of special fellowship with God and with myself. As the day is just an hour or so from ending, I can look back on it and say that this was one of my nicest birthdays ever and that I was surrounded by lots of love and genuine friendship. That is what has made it so special.

There were no grand parties with hundreds of guests (been there done that-Sweet 16 was a blast-21 who remembers what happened–40 was the BOMB!), there were no surprise highjinks pulled off by friends, there was no fanfare or noise–just love, lots of love, messages, emails, cards, flowers, and small expressions of gratitude lavished on me today. I had dinner with my mom and a couple of dear friends at PF Changs (one of my favorite spots) and it was rich. That is what made today so special–the day started peacefully and will end just the same. What else can a girl ask for?

I started my day with a chauffeured limo ride to FOXNEWS studios in D.C. where I had the privilege of being on air on national TV to discuss the economic stimulus package. I was then a guest on NPR’s Talk of the Nation with nationally syndicated columnist Clarence Page and we discussed the Illinois Senate seat debacle. I spent the day doing what I love–talking!

As she laughs.

By the time I looked up the day was almost over, and I had been listening to voice mails, reading texts, emails, etc. from friends all over who remembered my birthday, and who took the time to let me know that they valued me. People took the time to care for me and about me. It was very touching.

Some of you sang happy birthday on my voicemail. Others sent profound cards or messages. Some sent surprise flowers–beautiful flowers–a special thank you goes to the gentleman who sent the pink and green roses–2 dozen of them (you know who you are)–my nieces (who I adore more than anything on earth) sang to me and made me tear up. It was just a blessing to be alive today and to see my life come full circle to where I have wanted to be for so long. I felt peace today–something that has alluded me for a long time I am afraid to say.

I actually slowed down over the past few weeks and rested. I thought about what I wanted from my 2009 and what I had to be grateful for in my 2008.

Yes, today is my birthday and it was so special to turn on the news this morning and see young Malia and Sasha Obama smiling and waving as they drove off in their dark SUV to head to their new school. Click on this link to view some photos released by the Obama Transition Team: http://www.flickr.com/photos/changedotgov/sets/72157612143267559/show/

As I mentioned before my birthday is always the start of the New Year and of new beginnings. It is both a blessing and at times a challenge. But I want to end this post by sharing a story that the lady who was doing my make-up this morning at FOX shared with us because it crystallized for me the meaning of life and of why we are here: to love one another.

The make-up lady had a very dear friend who had just lost her 9 year old daughter. The woman was a devout Christian, a good woman. A devoted mother of two sons and a beloved daughter. The little girl woke up one Saturday morning and she was playing as ever with her two brothers. It was just another Saturday morning in their home filled with the laughter of happy children.

The older brother noticed that his sister seemed to be turning grey/blue and he quickly got his mother. They called 9-11–the mom started CPR–she was holding her baby girl in her arms. As the little girl was gasping for her last breath-she looked at her mother grabbed her hand and just kept whispering “mommy”–”mommy what is wrong”. Then she faded and died in her mother’s arms.

Friends, such grief and loss is simply unspeakable. I watched two dear friends who lost a teenage son in May of 2000 endure such a loss. It broke them. It changed them. You can still see the pain in their eyes all these years later if you mention his name. The make-up lady shared with us that her friend is now struggling to hold on to life herself. She is riddled with grief, she is depressed, suicidal even. She has lost her faith in God–she wonders “WHY LORD”–”WHY ME”–”I AM A GOOD PERSON”–”WHY”?

All of us at some point have asked that question, and if you have not yet–I promise you that you will do so before you draw your last breath.

So, why am I bringing this up you ask? Because my mission for all those I know and all those I love, and for those whose lives I touch in whatever way if you remember nothing else I have to say remember this:

Life is a vapor. No day is promised, not today and certainly not tomorrow. Love your family. Love your friends. Treat people with dignity. Be a good human being on your job. Help someone less fortunate than yourself. Speak words of encouragement, hope and life to people’s lives. Do not build your life on achieving goals or things. If you do–your foundation is weak. Your life is built on nothing. Your actions matter. Your words matter. The way you show people that you love them matters. When someone you love is gone–there can be no more conversations, no more laughter, no more coffee breaks, no gazing at the sun and the stars. You cannot live your life looking back wishing you had done things right when someone you loved was alive. It will be too late.

On our birthdays as we age we are often tempted to look back with regret and pain at what we failed to achieve or what we have lost. How dare we do so? Life and death know no boundaries–they hit infants, children, teens, young adults, mothers, fathers, husbands, and the aged. I dreaded my birthdays for a lot of years friends; too many to count. Those days are over. I was blessed to see another day today and I am grateful for it. My attitude has changed a lot since 2004 when the bottom fell out as I like to say.

I was loved today as I was yesterday and hopefully will be tomorrow. That is all I need really. That is all any of us ever needs–I just hope that we figure it out before time catches us and our days are no more. . .It’s all about the love folks.

Thank you for stopping by on my birthday. Good night!

If I Have not Love, I Am Nothing

Sophia Angeli Nelson