Remember My Birthday???

As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday.

Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated.

During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer.

It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me.

As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago.

At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration.

I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor.

The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates.
The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts.
But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited.
I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation.
The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face......and I wanted to be with them and share their table.

In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me.
Since I was not invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise.
I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a great time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on
the sofa and all the children ran to him,saying : "Santa Claus, Santa Claus"...as if the party were in his honor !

At 12 midnight all the people began to hug each other ; I extended my arms waiting for someone
to hug me and .... do you know .... no one hugged me.

Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation.
When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me.
What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one ?
I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left.

Every year it gets worse. People only remember to eat and drink, the gifts, the parties and
nobody remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life.
I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this
world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you. Today, I only want that you believe
this with all you heart.

I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my
own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party.
I'm still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many invitations and there is
an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for
you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest
list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invitation, will be left outside.

Do you know how you can answer this invitation? It is by extending it to others whom you care for.
I'll be waiting for all of you to attend my party.

I love you,

Jesus

Karen, that was well written and well deserved. Thanks for reminding us what we have to look forward to.

When I first moved to Nashville and started getting backstage passes to the Grand Ole Opry, Connie Smith was one of the big female stars. She was also very spiritual as well as a beautiful woman and a gifted singer.
She liked to end her Opry 'set' with a Gospel Tune and not only that, she would do a small testimonial between her last two songs.
Connie was told by the Powers-That-Be not to do that anymore because the audience would think that the Opry was a Gospel Show and not a Country Show.

On her Christmas set, Connie sang two very Country Songs. Just before her last song she said, "I've been told that I 'preach' too much between songs and I've promised not to do that tonight." Then she said, "I would like to dedicate this song to a friend of mine who is having a Birthday next week." Then Connie Smith proceeded to sing acapella:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR JESUS
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

A True, true story...I was there in the wings of the Opry Stage with some of my friends...

I love it, Connie has always been one of our favorite singers. I beleive that she could pull that off. We've been fortunate enough to see her several times lately via the preservation of some real old TV shows, particularly the Wilburn Brothers and Pop goes the Country with ol' Ralph. Really do enjoy her singing. Of course on these shows she was a very young lady. OBTW Karen thanks so much.

Horace