Twenty states, four different countries, three different continents, one island. That’s the quick geographical sketch, except to add that the states stretch from Alaska to Florida, Oregon to North Carolina, Texas to Michigan. Former students, former colleagues, present and former neighbors, fellow church members, current and former relatives including kids and cousins, siblings and in-laws, and—most especially, perhaps—friends.

Some sent a personal message via text messaging. Some used Facebook Messenger. Some even made an actual phone call! Whether it was a live serenade of “Happy Birthday to You” or just a quick click on the pre-packaged FB message, or one of the other options, every single one of them made me feel thought of, remembered, appreciated.

No matter how slight it might seem, anything at all beats the heck out of nothing. Whether it took ten seconds or ten minutes, every act of acknowledgement and remembrance brought a smile and warmed my heart. Frankly, it was a bit overwhelming to consider how many took time to wish me well or congratulate me on another trip around the sun.

As I looked at each posted comment, crafted message, digital clip, or whatever, they all reminded me of how fortunate I am to have had the opportunity for each relationship. While some are folks I know only slightly through Facebook, others are friends I’ve had since high school. The former students include a few from my first year of teaching at Fulton City High School nearly fifty years ago! From Calloway County High School after that. Then, there are a couple from forty years ago at Ohio State. Students when I was principal at Scott County Alternative. More recently—a mere twenty years ago—from Highland Community College. Colleagues from nearly every place I’ve worked in forty years of professional education.

From all the churches where I’ve preached, taught Sunday School, or just attended, the places I’ve lived, been employed, there are several who transcended the incidental of formal relationship and became true friends. Man, oh, man, I treasure those! Two or three of them morphed into David and Jonathan territory and became one of those “friend that is closer than a brother” kind of things.

Regardless of history, current affiliation, or degree of association, every single declaration or acknowledgement brought me cheer and encouragement. And reminded me that even the smallest of things can become appreciated and sometimes even cherished. Just a quick click of a pre-packaged birthday wish can help make someone’s day a bit brighter.

Even if—or maybe, especially if—that someone just turned seventy-one years old. My heartfelt thanks to each one of you who did that for me last week.