Whenever a person celebrates a birthday, it is only fitting to honor his/her mother and father, the source of life. When one celebrates his/her birthday, that person is also reminded of the preciousness of life. How is that?

Remember that behind each person is not only a father and mother but also:

• 4 grandparents
• 8 great grandparents
• 16 great, great grandparents
• 32 great, great, great grandparents
• 64 great, great, great, great grandparents
• 128 great, great, great, great, great grandparents

…and the numbers continue to increase. Every person’s life is only because of so many people before him or her. Hence, the challenges are :

1. First, honor the memory of our ancestors. Their stories, lives, values, and lessons are already a part of us. 
   
2. Second, we bear fruit. In the mission that God has given us, with the lives of our ancestors already part of us, with the story of so many families converging on us, we hope that our lives bear fruit 30-fold, 60-fold, and 100-fold.
   
3. Third, we continue the family story by bringing children into the world. This is the greatest legacy we can leave in this world. Further, if we form our children well, not only do we experience great joy but we provide for them a place in eternal life. 

That is why as we celebrate the gift of life, now more than ever we realize to honor the memory of the upper generation, to live fruitful lives while we can, and to continue the legacy by bringing forth God-fearing children.