You knew it would happen someday! But North Texas? Kali Jo and Cliff Scott were “great with child” (KJV) as they raced through town to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton. Some things in life just can’t wait.

Mother Kali Jo was hurriedly wheeled off to the delivery room. And a few minutes later—just in time, as it turns out—the Scotts’ in utero fraternal twins were born into this life.

Only something didn’t turn out quite right. Annie Jo arrived first, with younger sister Effie Rose debuting six minutes later. Normally that would be no big deal. But a twist of fate will keep these twins celebrating their birthdays—for the rest of their lives—not only on different days, but in different years! 

Because Annie was born on New Year’s Eve (11:55PM 2022), and Effie arrived on New Year’s Day (12:01AM 2023). Which for that particular hospital meant Annie was the last baby born in 2022—and Effie  the first baby born in 2023. Six minutes and a year apart! Go figure. 

The parents are delighted their daughters will have their own birthdays. The new mom told the reporter, “‘I love it . . . I think it is hilarious and just super fun . . . [We] want to make sure they have their own individual personality and know that they are special and unique’” (people.com/human-interest/texas-twins-born-two-different-years-2022-2023/).

Turns out you and I are “special and unique,” too. Not just because our birthdays are different, but because our divine Parent chose each one of us to be uniquely His. (God has no identical or fraternal twins in His very big Family.) 

What’s more, we have been “accepted in the Beloved” to belong to Him (Ephesians 1:6). And get this, “He chose us in Him before the creation of the world,” long before we were ever born (Ephesians 1:4)! God waited a long time for you and me. But hold on, the news gets even better. 

We were chosen, not just to be little ole regular you and little ole regular me. Turns out God has dreamed some very big dreams for us, for He actually chose us “to be holy and blameless in His sight” (Ephesians 1:4). Talking about high status spirituality, getting chosen to be holy and blameless in His sight is like taking the C-suite elevator straight up to Heaven’s top floor!

“God’s ideal for His children is higher than the highest human thought can reach” (Desire of Ages 311).

So never mind your birth date this New Year. Just remember you were born to be chosen, and in Jesus you are born again to be “holy and blameless” just like Him. And if you had to have a twin Brother born ahead of you, why not be glad it is Jesus (see Hebrews 2:11).