48 Candles                                                                                                       

          Joel knew that his dad, Tom, was dreading his upcoming birthday. So he said, “Dad how do you feel about turning…you know?”

“Joel”, Tom responded, “you know the more and more I think about it, I feel old son.  Things aren’t the way they used to be. When you get close to my age you‘ll understand.”

Joel replied, “Well you know Dad forty…” Tom quickly cut in and said, “Joel I told you several times never mention that number!

Joel couldn’t quite understand why his dad responded the way he did.  His father’s birthday was coming up soon and he thought to himself, “Hum, I have quite the thing to make him remember how special forty-something can be.”

          Tom’s birthday was here and while Joel was putting the candles on his birthday cake, he yelled,  “You know I want half candles on the cake son.”  Joel yelled back, “I hear ya Pop.”  When Joel came back with the cake, Tom thanked him and told him how proud he was on the great job he did on the cake.  “Dad, I have something I want you to read before you blow out the candles.”

“Ok. Son.”  Tom opens the card and it reads:

Forty-eight doesn’t necessarily read DISASTER like you thought it would be.  While some have come others have gone. Out of forty-eight not all have made it home.  Though they fought hard and tarried to greater heights.  It took forty-eight souls to carry them through that perilous night. How they made it one can wonder. BUT there lies strength in numbers.

Time quickly passes like the presence of light.  You either have forty-eight reasons to get it wrong or forty-eight reasons to get it right.  Age is a number that comes from up above when the Lord blessed you with age He did it with love.  Think of the ones that made it home and remember the ones that didn’t make it back.  When you think of forty-eight never take it back.  Life is a blessing not a curse; the more it’s wished away you continue to make it worse.  There are many people dying while you complain.  Would you rather trade places since you continue to blame? You may be getting old with a little shade of gray.  Does it really make a difference? It's nothing you can do about it anyway.  It may be going by fast that’s just part of the deal.  Look you’re only as young as you feel.  Hey, I’m just tryin to put your mind at ease just blow out the freakin forty-eight candles PLEASE!!!!!

 Tom was in awe! He was crying and laughing at the same time. He said, “Son you know this is the best thing you have ever given me.  You’re right. I’ve just been given a whole new perspective on age. Thank you so much, I love you, son.”  Joel smiled and said, “I’m glad dad.”

Tom smiled and said, “Forty-eight candles ah.” He blew them out and made a wish.