Well as you know, My
family is planning again, 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
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'd 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 places 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? Yes,
it is banned! They've actually
passed laws against it and
made it illegal! What is 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....
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
go to that same church for
twenty years and they 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, room 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 there with them!
(Matthew 8:11)
Invitations have been out
for quite some time, and more
are being sent daily. You must
quickly respond if you wish to
attend, there will be no
exceptions.
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, 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!
