The Birthday Girl

Most of us are fortunate to have sisters, whether by blood, by marriage, or by fated friendship. I am lucky to have sisters in all of these categories, and this week, one of these sisters has a birthday.

This sister deserves, perhaps more than anyone I know, a day that celebrates her goodness. From nieces and nephews whose special occasions and even most ordinary of moments are never forgotten to members of her church who are constantly looked after and loved, she radiates a spirit of giving. Even her profession, which takes her from big conference rooms in Europe to small clinics in Africa, is proof of her unfailing personal principles. But those of who know her well can add other, much smaller wonders to this list: the way her apartment smells like lavender is hidden in the corners; the way her clothes are always crisp; how she sweats so much when she runs her shoes squeak; the way she is always concerned that she has hurt someone's feelings; her love for Paris and all things French; the way her skin glows; that she can fall asleep instantly yet always wakes up too early; when she stands in the kitchen and eats jam on crackers. All of her, both the big and the small, leave an indelible mark on us.

She may feel that she gets into a rhythm of "doing" that no one sees. Thinking of all my sisters, I am sure there are things we feel that no one notices. The meals we prepare; the kids we care for; the person we said hello to; the workout we squeezed in; the test we did well on; the productive day at work; the silent service we gave; the book we read; the candle we created. But the simple truth is, these things do not go unnoticed. And what is better, they all deserve to be celebrated.

So here's to the birthday girl and to all of my sisters who have a noticed spot in my world.