Daniel Grothe

We love Tyler and Kirsten Staton. And we loved getting to spend the weekend with them here in Colorado Springs. They served our and families beautifully, we shared good food, and we caught up on life. Is there anything more enriching than friendship in the Kingdom of God? I don’t think there is.

Today I turned 43.

It would be impossible to tally up all of the treasures in a spreadsheet. I’m alive and experiencing good health at the moment. I’m married to the most wholesome and excellent woman I could ever fathom. We have children that are vibrant and funny, children who also happen to enjoy our company. My parents and Lisa’s parents have been a sacred canopy under which our lives have been protected. They’ve loved God and loved people and have taught us to do the same. Old King Solomon said that “A good name is more to be desired than riches.” Our parents have lived as if that were their goal—establishing a good name.

I have so many friends and people that I trust, people that would see to it that my children were okay if Lisa and I were gone all of the sudden. I live among the saints of New Life Church. Their faith and gritty faithfulness has buoyed me a thousand times when I could have gone out to drift. For half of my life, I have been loved and discipled by them.

I live in Colorado Springs where angels ascend and descend to and from their heavenly home. I could go on and on.

Mostly, the feeling at the end of my birthday is a feeling of deep gratitude. I only hope I can love people in a way that’s commensurate to the love I have received from so many people. I only hope I’ll be found to have stewarded the gift. “To whom much is given, much will be required.” “Freely you have received; now freely give.”

Here’s to spending the next 43 years trying to give all that love away.