Faithful at Fifty

As Lilia Grundy celebrates a milestone birthday, a crisis put her faith through a test of trust.

As my milestone birthday approached, I kept trying to push thoughts of planning it far from my mind. While my family seemed eager to celebrate, I was avoiding the number itself. Still, I recognized that being able to enjoy another year of life was a blessing. I didn’t want to spend an exorbitant amount of money on a big party or impose on others by asking them to take time out of their day for me. Instead, I began thinking about the things I love most and decided to build my day around them.

As I put my list together, I realized that my favorite things centered on my family and my faith. Then it hit me: “Faithful at Fifty!” That would be the theme for my birthday. I wouldn’t just invite my closest family members and friends; I would use the occasion as an opportunity to share my faith.

I created a save-the-date flyer with the itinerary and locations for the day’s activities. I added flowers and angel-wing graphics, along with Romans 8:28 — a verse my father taught me to think of as my "birthday verse" because I was born on August 28:

We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Then I began texting the invitation to people from all parts of my everyday life, including my gym friends. I especially wanted to invite those who weren’t necessarily Catholic or religious.

Fantastic Faithful-at-Fifty Fun

Anyone who knows me knows that I love themes and planning, so when my birthday arrived, I had everything lined up — even my own chauffeur: my dear husband, who generously volunteered to drive me to each activity.

It was a day to treasure. What better way to start the morning than by attending Mass with friends and family? The quiet time that followed, spent in Adoration, was a perfect way to praise God for the blessing of another year of life.

The best part was sharing the joy of my faith with those who weren’t familiar with Catholic traditions. Since children often hand out goodie bags at their parties, I thought, "I’ll make my own ‘Faithful at Fifty’ giveaway!” I filled sheer organza bags with mini Jesus figurines, tiny glass bottles with corks filled with mustard seeds, Matthew 17:20 Scripture cards, faith stickers, and — of course — dark chocolate.

The day was filled with laughter, love, and faith. I had planned the celebration as a joyful way to share what matters most to me. I didn’t know that, just one day later, I would be called to lean on that same faith in a very different way.

The Test of Trust That Followed

The very next day, celebration turned to crisis: I learned that my mother had been rushed to the ER by ambulance. I was shocked. Just the evening before, she had been sitting with our family at my birthday dinner. Now I was heading to the hospital to find out how she was doing.

My mother had been unable to breathe, prompting my sister to call 911. It felt like divine providence that my sister was in town. She lives in California, but my mother and I had sweetly guilted her into coming to Washington to celebrate my birthday. Because she was staying at my parents’ home, she was there to get help quickly.

We waited to hear from the doctors about what had happened and what would come next. The cardiologist finally told us that my mother “was very sick” and would need urgent open-heart surgery. I never thought I would hear those words — least of all about my own mother.

My faith was my anchor. I turned immediately to prayer and called my dear friend, who works at our parish. She sprang into action, contacting our parochial vicar, who arrived at the hospital within an hour to bless my mother.

I also reached out to my fellow members of our Holy Angels Consecration group and my church friends. They further sent messages by text and email to the prayer warriors. I could feel their prayers lifting our family up. We felt surrounded by angels and saints, as well as the Blessed Mother and our Heavenly Father. As my mother prepared for surgery, she calmly looked at my father and said, “It’s in God’s hands.”

Thanks be to God, my mother’s surgery was a success. The prayers and faith of our family and community carried us through a frightening time. My “Faithful at Fifty” theme had been put to the test — and, in the days that followed, became more than a birthday theme. It became a way to share our faith, trust, and hope with one another.

Pause and reflect:

How can the way we celebrate — and the way we respond to life’s unexpected challenges — become an opportunity to share our faith with others?

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Copyright 2026 Lilia Grundy
Images: (top, center) Canva; (bottom) copyright 2026 Lilia Grundy, all rights reserved.