Today is my birthday and what a great day I am going to have. I scheduled a vacation day today so I could spend the whole day doing things for myself. I have been thinking of this day for months, in fact I have been planning this day for months and it has finally arrived and its time to celebrate my birth.

As I awoke this morning, I lay in bed listening to the birds outside my window singing a birthday song just for me. I sat up and rested my head against the headboard of my bed, enjoying the magic of the morning. As I lay there breathing in the gift of life my mind drifted off to the activities that I had planned for myself. First thing I had planned was to get up and get my kids off to school, once that task was accomplished, I was going to make myself a fresh cup of coffee and then run me a hot bath with lots of bubbles, candles and incense and slip into the healing waters to release the stress of everyday life. I have been working so much over time at my job that it seems like I spend more time at work than I do in my own home.

I finally got my children off to school, put on a fresh pot of coffee to start my day, I prepared my bubble bath, put on some soothing music, poured me a cup of coffee, disrobed and slowly lowered myself into the healing waters to soak. As I lay there enjoying my quiet time, the day's events were running through my mind of how I planned on spending my birthday. The first thing on my agenda was to go get my hair, colored, cut and styled. Next I planned on taking myself to lunch to a fancy seafood restaurant uptown. Then I was going to hit the malls and buy me some shoes, perfume and jewelry and finally end my afternoon with a sappy love story at the movie theaters before having to go pick up my children from school.

As I was listening to my meditating music and enjoying my rich brewed cup of coffee, I heard a voice. At first I thought I imagined this voice, I thought maybe all the stress I had experienced all week from work was taking its toll on my mind. I tried to ignore this voice by turning up the music a little louder to drown it out, but sometime strange happened when I tried to turn up the music, the volume switch was not working and in fact the music I was hearing was not the music I put in to listen too. The music that filled my space sounded like angels singing. I stopped and listened to the sweet harmony of the invisible heavenly choir, when I heard the voice again. As I listened to this voice a feeling of peace and love filled my soul, tears welled up in my eyes and even though I was submerged in a hot tub of water, chills swept throughout my entire body. This voice was almost like a whisper, as though someone was trying to talk, but you could only hear the words from within the mind.

The voice said to me; “Happy Birthday, my child, this is how you will celebrate your birthday for today”. “First you will go give the gift of life, you will donate your blood. Next you will go purchase three flowers. Two yellow carnations and one red rose. Next you will go find someone to give those flowers to.”

After I listened to what the voice said to me, I busted out laughing. I said; “I'm not going to spend my birthday doing that, what are you, crazy?” This is my special day and I already have plans. Once again in a very sweet gentle tone, the voice gave me the same instructions as before and then said to me, “You are a very special spirit, you are loved dearly and you will do what you know is right”.

I laid there in my bathtub contemplating the words that were just spoken to me and listening to the heavenly choir of angels as the music faded into the ethers and my meditating music returned. What just happened? I asked myself. Was that for real? Did I imagine that conversation in my mind?

I got out of the tub and got myself ready for my birthday plans for the day. I left my house and was heading towards the hair salon when I came up to a red light. I stopped and instantly I heard that voice again, only this time it was not gentle and was not soft spoken, it was like I was being screamed at. The voice said to me in a very demanding tone, “Put your car in reverse and back up 50 feet away from the light” My first thought was, that's ridiculous, why would I want to do that?

Once again the voice demanded me to back my car away from the red light, so I obeyed the voice and put my car in reverse, first checking to make sure there were no cars behind me and as soon as I was 50 feet away from the red light, this truck came whipping around the corner at a very high speed and over corrected himself which forced his vehicle into the space where my car had been previously parked. As I sat in my car and witness what had just taken place, a quiver surged through my body as I realize that my life had just been protected from a dangerous situation. I sat there until the light changed to green then I slowly and cautiously drove though the intersection as my mind raced and my body shook.

The voice once again told me how I was going to spend my birthday and like a spoiled child I protested loudly and as I was having my mini temper tantrum my cell phone rang and it was the hair salon telling me that they needed to cancel my appointment. After I hung up the phone, I said in a very irritating voice, “Fine, you win thanks for ruining my birthday plans”. As I drove I tried to calm myself and change my attitude so that I would not ruin my own birthday. I drove east towards the blood bank and thought maybe if I hurried and did all the things that voice had told me to do for my birthday then I could still continue with my previous plans and still do what I wanted to do. You know how spoiled children are, always wanting their own way.

I pulled into the blood bank and went inside and filled out the paperwork to have my blood drawn. As I was waiting to be called back a phone call came into the center and the nurse on the phone asked if anybody in the center was O negative blood type. I told her that I was. She then asked me if I would be willing to drive to the children's medical center and give blood up there because there was new born baby that needed a blood transfusion and his life depended on it. I looked at her and remembered the voice telling me how I was going to spend my birthday and tears were running down my face as I told her, I would be honored to go up to the medical center and give the gift of life.

I was soon sitting at the children's medical center waiting for my blood to be drawn and it was then that I realized I had forgotten to tell the blood bank a very important piece of information regarding my blood type. I have given blood before and years ago when they tested my blood they found a very helpful RhD-antibody in my blood that helps with HDN. (Hemolytic disease of the newborn). As I sat in the chair watching the plastic bag being filled with my gift of life, my mind suddenly began to replay my magical morning and it was then that I realized that God works in mysterious ways.

After I left the blood bank, I had decided to go find the flowers that the voice had told me to buy. I walked into a grocery store and headed towards the floral department and as I walked into that section, directly on the shelf in a crystal vase, were two yellow carnations and one red rose. I picked up the gift, paid for it and walked to my car, wondering who I was suppose to give them to. As I sat in my car looking at the beautiful flowers, that spoiled child came out to play once again. She threw a fit and told me, “It's your birthday, I can't believe that you are going to give your flowers to someone else.” I sat there listening to that inner chatter and decided that she was right, it is my birthday and I am going to keep the flowers for myself, it was then that I looked to the north of were I was parked and noticed a rest home for the elderly and knew that someone in that place needed flowers.

I drove across the street and parked my car in the parking lot of the rest home. I got out with the flowers and walked into the office of the care center and asked the director if there was anyone who could use a visitor and who would love to have some flowers to brighten up there day? This director looked at me with tear filled eyes and said to me. “You're an answer to our prayers” She proceeded to tell me that there was a little lady by the name of Vivian who never has anyone come to visit with her and she could use a visitor.

I walked down the hall with the director and was introduced to a very special little angel by the name of Vivian. The director left me standing there in the door way of this women's room. I felt a bit uncomfortable because this little lady had never met me and when I told her I wanted to visit with her and give her flowers to brighten up her day, she growled at me in a very angry voice. She said to me; ” Why would you want to visit with a crabby old lady who you have never met, I don't even know you, so get out of my room.”

I stood there for a minute and almost left. Then I said to myself, “Ok God. This is your idea, you take it from here. You better soften this womens heart or I'm out of here.”

As soon as I thought those words, the little lady said to me, “What kind of flowers did you bring me”? I told her that I had carnations and roses and when I told her that ,she broke down and started to sob uncontrollably. When I seen her reaction, I went over to her and sat on her bed and held her in my arms as she wept. She cried for a long time as I handed her tissue after tissue to catch her tears. Then she looked at me and said my dear husband used to buy me those flowers, two yellow carnations and one red rose and today would have been our 70th wedding anniversary. God does answer prayers.

It was then that I realized, I was an answer to many peoples prayers today. God gave me a message of how I was to spend my birthday and I listened to his words and by doing so, I gave a gift to many people, including one to myself. The gift I received was the most important gift of all, it was the gift of sharing the love that is inside me, with others instead of keeping it all to myself.

When God speaks, listen to that still small voice, follow the instructions given from within and by doings so we ourselves are blessed more than we could ever imagine. God's Angels on earth are really people who listen to the messages received and share that message with humanity.

Some words of advise: no matter how silly it all seems, even if it doesn't make sense to you at the time when you receive your message, trust in your higher power and see the blessing unfold right before your eyes.

If you liked this story, you'll love this! We've compiled a list of the top 10 spiritual stories that our readers love. You can read them here.

This spiritual short story written by Leslie Moon Blackburn © 2006. Leslie has always loved to write, ever since second grade, and now that love has manifested itself in the form of automatic writing (a form of channeling). She received this gift from God after a series of life challenges that ultimately brought her away from the religion she previously associated with and closer to her God source energy, and she is grateful to be able to share her gift with others.

The post My Birthday Gift – A Short Spiritual Story appeared first on Spiritual Growth Events.

Well I am finally here and it feels so good to be in your presence. I know that there were many times when I felt like my world had collapsed upon me and I should of come to you sooner and I know you were waiting for that invitation for you to come in and help, but me being the typical human that I am, thought I could handle things on my own and I never asked for your help and I just sunk deeper and deeper into my despair.

Today is a new day filled with life and new opportunities and I am taking this opportunity right now to have a conversation with you. I am so grateful just to be able to be in your very presence.

A few days ago I felt like my life had been drained from me and yet you were there waiting for the call for help and I still chose not to invite you into my darkness to help throw me a life line to pull myself out. We humans can be so stubborn and set in our ways. I'm not here today to ask for anything in particular, I'm just here to enjoy this moment, to soak up the essence of spirit, to embrace the energy that surrounds my very being just from being in the moment.

I will quiet down my thoughts and silence my mind chatter so that I may receive a message from my inner healer, my inner child, my inner teacher and from a loving energy more powerful than I can even image. Spirit I am ready to receive your words of wisdom.

“My Child, My Child here you are with all of your beautiful colors that radiate from your very being. If you could see how magnificent your colors are, you would marvel at your magical rainbow that fills the void around you and if you could see the hues of the spectrum, if only for a brief moment your blinders were removed from your vision, you would witness for yourself the beauty that radiates from every cell, every pour and every fiber of your essence, then you would realize what a gem you are and what a gift you have to offer this place that you call earth.

You are such a beautiful being, filled with so much light, even on those dark days that you judge as darkness, you still radiate more light than you can even imagine. As you see yourself wrapped up in your personal darkness, just remember it's all an illusion and know that spirit is right beside you just waiting for you to call upon us. We are waiting to assist you in anyway that we can. We love you and are with you at all times. We honor your free agency and will never impose ourselves upon you unless you ask for our assistance.

When you pray, know this my child that we are right by your side, kneeling with you and holding your hand even though you are not aware of this, we are near you. Please open your heart, mind and soul and ask us to step in and help. That is our calling that is what we came here to do. We love you. You are such a radiant being.

We honor you for your commitment of coming into this duality and then having your memory erased of who you truly are. What an awesome assignment you have taken upon yourself to learn about spirit and how to go through this life holding fast to your beliefs and trusting that the universal source of all that is, is testing you along your journey of this wonderful experience called life.

We kneel and kiss the feet of such an honorable spirit that you are. My being is filled with complete love for you dear one, I wish you could feel all the joy that is radiating from the very center of my energy and know that being in your presence is a blessing. You are more than you can spiritually comprehend. One day you will be able to see what I see. One day your true essence of who you really are will be revealed unto you, but until that times comes, just know how blessed and loved you are and what a beautiful spirit you radiate into and around the lives of others and yourself.

We want you to know that deep within your very core of your soul, is a beautiful energy. This energy is from the God source. You are part of that God source energy and have always been and will always be. The potential of who you are is endless. You have a thousand possibilities of who you are becoming.

Your confidence and faith in yourself is lacking. Trust in yourself, love yourself, become yourself and know that what ever it is in life that you desire, you can manifest it. You have the magical power of the universe right at your finger tips, just waiting for you to intend your life according to your plan.

You have a great gift. All of humanity has this gift, you just have to believe in yourself and trust in your ability. Be confident in knowing that you are a part of God and that God is a part of you. Be happy, feel God and be thankful for all you have and for all that is. Trust in your higher source of wisdom, love and be loved. Give unto others and accept others when they are giving unto you.

Be humble, acknowledge spirit daily in your life, be open to ideas, be aware of your surroundings, listen to that inner voice and follow its guidance. When you are prompted by spirit, act upon that inner knowing, you must participate in the dance of your own creation, know that you truly are the master of your own life, be a part of your life, embrace your life, love your life, become your life.

It's your life and you only have one life to live, and that life is right now, in this present moment. Live in the present moment, be totally conscious of this moment, pay attention to what is happening right now. All miracles of life happen in the now.

Find happiness in the now. Happiness is not found traveling back to the past, for the past is just a memory, a trail that was left behind from a lesson you learned. Happiness is not found in the future, for the future doesn't exist, the future is just thoughts that are going through your mind of things that might be. Happiness is found right now in this present moment as you enjoy these words from spirit.

Be thankful for what you have, find happiness in what you do and happiness will find you in everything that you are becoming. See the beauty in all things even an ant is beautiful if you look at things in a new light. Notice the wonders of a dragonfly as it reflects the blue and green hues as the sun bounces off its wings as it dips and zips in the morning breeze. Notice the beauty of a cloud as it drifts silently through the azure sky calling no attention to itself but still knowing that just the appearance of its feathery softness is bringing happiness to someone at this very moment.

Beauty and happiness is all around us. Be totally in the present moment,be in the now. For right now is the only time there is. These words right now are here for you, right now, enjoy them, breathe them in, experience them. See yourself as beautiful no matter how many wrinkles you think you might have. Find happiness with every intake of your breath, knowing that you are alive. Enjoy your life, see the world around you as a beautiful and happy place to just be.

See the beauty in yourself for you truly are an elegant master piece. God is beautiful and you are a part of God, so that makes you just as beautiful. Spirit loves you, your inner child loves you. Trust in that inner wisdom that beckons you to call upon spirit on a daily basis. Ask as we shall comfort you, but sweet child you have to remember to ask. We honor you and will never press ourselves upon you. We will always respond to your needs in the time frame that God has given us.

Sometimes it might seem like your prayers go unanswered, but know this dear one, they are always answered according to God's time frame, not yours. In actuality God has no time frame, linear time does not exist in God's realm, time only exists in your realm. For things to function in this 4th dimensional world, time and space was set up so that your human minds could comprehend things easier.

Be patient and know that all of your prayers will always be answered and that they are always heard. Be loving to yourself, be gentle on yourself. Be grateful for who you are becoming, for you truly are a gift sent by the creator to this earth to learn wisdom and discover your own inner light so that you may send light out to others and to help the lives of your fellow friends, family and acquaintances.

You are such a beautiful being sent from that God source energy. The sooner you realize how blessed and loved you are the faster you will be able to share your knowledge and gift with others. When we share our inner wisdom with those around us, it helps raise the loving vibrations of this wonderful planet of mother earth.

When mother earth is being loved, in return she loves us back and offers us such a blessing and a gift of her natural resources. Be aware of your present moment, pay attention to what is around you, find beauty and happiness in everything you do, share that wisdom with others, raise your own personal vibration of love and light and when you do that can you imagine what a beautiful place this world will be to live in.

Spirit leaves you this message to ponder, to absorb into your present moment, to partake of the gift of knowledge that you have been given this day. Remember that spirit is with you at all times and that you need to communicate daily with spirit in order for this God source energy to benefit your humble existence on this beautiful planet, that you call earth.

Until our paths shall meet again, know this Dear One, that you are truly loved.”

This spiritual short story written by Leslie Moon Blackburn © 2006. Leslie has always loved to write, ever since second grade, and now that love has manifested itself in the form of automatic writing (a form of channeling). She received this gift from God after a series of life challenges that ultimately brought her away from the religion she previously associated with and closer to her God source energy, and she is grateful to be able to share her gift with others.

The post Conversation With Spirit – A Spiritual Story by Leslie Moon Blackburn appeared first on Spiritual Growth Events.