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 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
enter 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?
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) 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
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P. S. - Why is it that children can't read a Bible in
school, but they can in prison? May God bless you and the ones you love. |
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