The Party
Nov 27, 2021 by Iris Munchinsky
The holiday and birthday girls were the first two to arrive and I made a great show of casually chatting it up with them until I received a surprise of my own in the form of a text from the pastor--Are you sure her birthday isn't next month? I let out a strangled gasp, but waved off their startled expressions. The others arrived and I brought out the cake while we all sang Happy Birthday to You and presented her with gifts. About that time another text arrived, informing me that actually, her birthday wasn't until the end of the next month, which possibly explained her head shaking and confused laughter. Anyway, as they say, a good time was had by all.
A little later the "birthday girl" asked one of the other ladies in the group when her birthday was but received an evasive response. We got the picture, though, when her husband, who had been visiting the pastor, came out and spilled the beans. Here she was, graciously celebrating the other girl's birthday a month ahead of time, when in fact, it was her own birthday and no one had thought to mention it. I told the imposter to give all her gifts to the other lady but she would have none of it.
I actually have a reason for sharing this absurd story and given the time of year, I'm pretty sure most people can make the connection. We are consumed with Christmas shopping, Christmas decorating, Christmas get-togethers, Christmas programs and Christmas baking, while all the time all but ignoring the first six letters of Christmas. We know in our hearts that Christ should be the center, but as they say, actions speak louder than words. All of the above are good things--even necessary in a civilized society--but most of the time we get the focus all wrong. There would be no Christmas without Christ stepping out of heaven to be born in a lowly manger, then thirty-three years later, dying on the cross for our sins. This year, let's invite Him into the heart of our activities and put the focus back where it belongs. After all, it's His day--not ours.
A little later the "birthday girl" asked one of the other ladies in the group when her birthday was but received an evasive response. We got the picture, though, when her husband, who had been visiting the pastor, came out and spilled the beans. Here she was, graciously celebrating the other girl's birthday a month ahead of time, when in fact, it was her own birthday and no one had thought to mention it. I told the imposter to give all her gifts to the other lady but she would have none of it.
I actually have a reason for sharing this absurd story and given the time of year, I'm pretty sure most people can make the connection. We are consumed with Christmas shopping, Christmas decorating, Christmas get-togethers, Christmas programs and Christmas baking, while all the time all but ignoring the first six letters of Christmas. We know in our hearts that Christ should be the center, but as they say, actions speak louder than words. All of the above are good things--even necessary in a civilized society--but most of the time we get the focus all wrong. There would be no Christmas without Christ stepping out of heaven to be born in a lowly manger, then thirty-three years later, dying on the cross for our sins. This year, let's invite Him into the heart of our activities and put the focus back where it belongs. After all, it's His day--not ours.