My Birthday
Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2003 3:46 pm
Hello dear friend!
Well as you know, it's time for my birthday
again. Last year, they had a really big party for me and it
seems like they will again this year. After all they've been
shopping and preparing for it for months now, and there
have been announcements and advertisements almost
every day about how soon it's coming! They really do go
overboard about it, but it's nice to know that at least on one
day of the year some people are thinking about me a little.
You know, it's been many years now since they first started
celebrating my birthday. Back then they seemed to realize
and appreciate how much fun it is for the little children. Just
the same, it seems that most folks are missing the point of
it all
Like last year, for example, when my birthday came around,
they threw a big party, but can you believe it? I wasn't even
invited! Imagine! The guest of honor, and they forgot all
about me? Here they had begun preparing for the festivities
months in advance, but when the big day came, I was left
out in the cold? Well, it happened so many times in recent
years, I wasn't even surprised. Even though I wasn't invited,
I thought I'd just quietly slip in anyway. So I came in and
stood off to the side.
Everyone was drinking, laughing and having a grand time,
when all of a sudden in came this fat fellow in a bright red
suit, wearing a phony white beard and shouting, "Ho Ho Ho!".
He looked like he had more than enough to drink. When he
collapsed into a big armchair, all the little children went
running over to him excitedly yelling, "Santa! Santa!". I
mean, you'd have thought he was the guest of honor and
the whole holiday was just for him.
Finally I just had to leave. I walked out the door. It was no
surprise that no one even noticed that I had gone As I
walked down the street afterward, I felt about as lonely
and forlorn as a stray dog? I could not remember the last
time I'd felt that low. Maybe you don't think I cry??
The little manger scene you put in the corner of your living
room is really touching! It's good that people commemorate
my birthday like that. Did you know that nowadays, in some
countries, the authorities won't even allow manger scenes to
be placed in parks, streets, or public place anymore! Not to
mention their schools! I'm not talking about Communist
countries! I'm talking about the good, old USA. Imagine!
What could be more innocent than a manger scene to
remind people of my birthday? Yet it is banned! They've
actually passed laws against it and made it illegal! What's
this world coming to?
Another thing that amazes me is how, on my birthday,
instead of giving me presents, most people give gifts to
each other! And to top it all off, it's usually all kinds of stuff
they don't even need! Let me ask you, wouldn't you find it
odd if when your birthday came along, all your friends
decided to celebrate it by giving each other presents and
never gave you a thing?
Someone once told me, "Well, it's because you're not
around like other people are, so how can we give you a
present??. You know my answer to that one: Then give
gifts of food and clothing to the poor, help those who need
it. Go visit the lonely! Any gift you give to your needy fellow
man, I'll count as if you gave it to me personally! (See
Matthew 25:34-40)
It reminds me of what happened recently to a friend of mine,
a sweet elderly fellow. He's from the poorer side of town, and
he's been trying unsuccessfully for years to join the church.
It was a very exclusive church for the proper kind of folks,
and they just did not think he was good enough to be a
member. I found him one day sitting by the church steps
with his head on his hands bowed. I asked him what was
wrong. He told me about it. I put my arm around his shoulder
and told him I knew just how he felt. I've been wanting to
enter that same church for twenty years and they've never
let me in either!
Well there is an end even to my patience. So I'm going to
let you in on a secret. Now this is something I've been
planning on doing for quite sometime. I'll have my own party!
How about that? It's going to be the most fantastic feast
you could possibly imagine! It might not happen this year,
but I'm sending out the invitations now. I know you'll want
to come. There is going to be room for billions, for everyone
who wants to come! Some really famous old timers and
celebrities are going to be there and I'll reserve you a seat of
honor right with them! (Mat. 8:11)
So hold on to your hat because when everything is ready, I'm
going to spring it as a big surprise! Many people are going to
be left out in the cold because they did not answer my invitation.
Let me know right away if you'd like to come. I'll reserve you a
place and write your name in large golden letters in my great
big Guest Book!
Much Love,
Jesus
Well as you know, it's time for my birthday
again. Last year, they had a really big party for me and it
seems like they will again this year. After all they've been
shopping and preparing for it for months now, and there
have been announcements and advertisements almost
every day about how soon it's coming! They really do go
overboard about it, but it's nice to know that at least on one
day of the year some people are thinking about me a little.
You know, it's been many years now since they first started
celebrating my birthday. Back then they seemed to realize
and appreciate how much fun it is for the little children. Just
the same, it seems that most folks are missing the point of
it all
Like last year, for example, when my birthday came around,
they threw a big party, but can you believe it? I wasn't even
invited! Imagine! The guest of honor, and they forgot all
about me? Here they had begun preparing for the festivities
months in advance, but when the big day came, I was left
out in the cold? Well, it happened so many times in recent
years, I wasn't even surprised. Even though I wasn't invited,
I thought I'd just quietly slip in anyway. So I came in and
stood off to the side.
Everyone was drinking, laughing and having a grand time,
when all of a sudden in came this fat fellow in a bright red
suit, wearing a phony white beard and shouting, "Ho Ho Ho!".
He looked like he had more than enough to drink. When he
collapsed into a big armchair, all the little children went
running over to him excitedly yelling, "Santa! Santa!". I
mean, you'd have thought he was the guest of honor and
the whole holiday was just for him.
Finally I just had to leave. I walked out the door. It was no
surprise that no one even noticed that I had gone As I
walked down the street afterward, I felt about as lonely
and forlorn as a stray dog? I could not remember the last
time I'd felt that low. Maybe you don't think I cry??
The little manger scene you put in the corner of your living
room is really touching! It's good that people commemorate
my birthday like that. Did you know that nowadays, in some
countries, the authorities won't even allow manger scenes to
be placed in parks, streets, or public place anymore! Not to
mention their schools! I'm not talking about Communist
countries! I'm talking about the good, old USA. Imagine!
What could be more innocent than a manger scene to
remind people of my birthday? Yet it is banned! They've
actually passed laws against it and made it illegal! What's
this world coming to?
Another thing that amazes me is how, on my birthday,
instead of giving me presents, most people give gifts to
each other! And to top it all off, it's usually all kinds of stuff
they don't even need! Let me ask you, wouldn't you find it
odd if when your birthday came along, all your friends
decided to celebrate it by giving each other presents and
never gave you a thing?
Someone once told me, "Well, it's because you're not
around like other people are, so how can we give you a
present??. You know my answer to that one: Then give
gifts of food and clothing to the poor, help those who need
it. Go visit the lonely! Any gift you give to your needy fellow
man, I'll count as if you gave it to me personally! (See
Matthew 25:34-40)
It reminds me of what happened recently to a friend of mine,
a sweet elderly fellow. He's from the poorer side of town, and
he's been trying unsuccessfully for years to join the church.
It was a very exclusive church for the proper kind of folks,
and they just did not think he was good enough to be a
member. I found him one day sitting by the church steps
with his head on his hands bowed. I asked him what was
wrong. He told me about it. I put my arm around his shoulder
and told him I knew just how he felt. I've been wanting to
enter that same church for twenty years and they've never
let me in either!
Well there is an end even to my patience. So I'm going to
let you in on a secret. Now this is something I've been
planning on doing for quite sometime. I'll have my own party!
How about that? It's going to be the most fantastic feast
you could possibly imagine! It might not happen this year,
but I'm sending out the invitations now. I know you'll want
to come. There is going to be room for billions, for everyone
who wants to come! Some really famous old timers and
celebrities are going to be there and I'll reserve you a seat of
honor right with them! (Mat. 8:11)
So hold on to your hat because when everything is ready, I'm
going to spring it as a big surprise! Many people are going to
be left out in the cold because they did not answer my invitation.
Let me know right away if you'd like to come. I'll reserve you a
place and write your name in large golden letters in my great
big Guest Book!
Much Love,
Jesus
