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!
