Last Friday we celebrated my friends 60th birthday. He asked if we would host at our home because our home is large and well-designed for parties. He said he would take care of the rest.
He invited 30 people. Almost everyone he invited came, even those who came from out of state. Because of his background the invite list included a former NFL player, a former NHL player, a pastor, coworkers, his pastors, and his immediate family. It was the most interesting mix of exceptional individuals I had ever seen collected in one place.
He catered food from his favorite restaurants and cooked us tomahawk steaks. He served us. Then, once we were all seated, he went around the room, and for each person present, he said honored them with his word, explaining what they had meant to him. Then he gave them a present. That’s right he gave them a present.
When one of the guests stood up to honor him he said thank you but quickly shut him down and told him this was his party and this was what he wanted to do. He continued going around the room honoring each person and then giving them a gift. I had never seen anything like it.
When the last guests left after 2:00 a.m., The Wife and I commented to one another that it had been the best birthday party we had ever attended. The party was great because my friend recreated the traditional birthday party from a license to be self-centered into an opportunity to serve others. He turned the traditional birthday party inside-out.
But he wasn’t the first to do so. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men came to bring Him gifts. But the angel of the Lord who appeared to the shepherds in the field to announce Jesus’ birth made it clear that Jesus’ birth was a gift for them and all the people:
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Chirst the Lord.”
Luke 2:10-11
So, if you want to follow the example of the King, use your next birthday party as an opportunity to bless those who have meant so much to you. Then, when you die, they will thank God that you lived. GS