Thursday, December 24, 2009

Happy Birthday, Dear Jesus





Years ago, when my niece and two nephews were small, for the first time, I read the facts of the Christmas Story to them. It is found in Luke 2 of our Holy Bible. Well, I actually read it to our entire family who were gathered in our house for our Christmas Eve celebration. Believe me, every adult there needed to be reminded of the basis of what Christmas is all about, including me. Things just sort of push the Truth aside don't they? I was actually quite nervous about doing this because I didn't want them to think I thought I was Miss Super Spirituality. But I did do what I knew the Lord was urging me to do.







So, to get ready for this, I went to the bakery department of the grocery store and picked out a small pre-made cake from behind the glass counter. The girl (about age 20) asked if I wanted her to decorate it with words and I said "Yes, I want it to say Happy Birthday Jesus". She stared at me for a little while and said "Huh"? I repeated it - she still could not fathom it!! Why, I don't know. So I said, "Christmas is the Birthday of Jesus, you know". "Oh" was her reply. People, she was not from some strange foreign country - she lived right here in Texas!! And she didn't know this?!! But there's more. After she had gone in the back and decorated with the first two words, she came back to the counter and with puzzled expression on her face, said "Now how do you spell Jesus?" (Dear God, help us!!!) So I had to spell it for her - three times before she got it. I was amazed, shocked and saddened.






So, anyway, on Christmas Eve we all gathered in our living room and sang about a dozen carols which is one of my favorite traditions. And always, Silent Night, is the final one - it is so special and my favorite carol. Right before the final carol, I slipped in the kitchen and stuck birthday candles in the small cake (the whole box of candles) and lit them. I carried it to our group of family and those three kids' eyes got huge!! I had their attention and everyone's really because I'd not told anyone I was going to do this. I sat the glowing cake on the footstool and I sat down and opened the Bible to this precious section and told them I just wanted to read what we have all been celebrating all these years. I read, my voice was shaky because I was nervous. But all of them were engrossed. I had dimmed the lights as I had come back in the room so the candles truly were the center of attention. And those words on the Birthday cake. The three kids (3-6 yrs old) had gathered really close to me and the cake. As soon as I finished reading from the Bible (and I felt it was important to read directly from it rather than a sheet of paper so it would be impressed upon them that it came from the Truth, the Holy Bible), then I started leading them in singing the Happy Birthday Song to Jesus - they were really understanding now. Then I said "I think the three kids should blow out the candles on Jesus' cake". I didn't have to mention it twice. Those three sweeties blew at the same time and out they went. We then started singing Silent Night. It is one of my favorite memories of their childhood and my adulthood when I decided to care more of what God thought of me than what people thought of me. Sometimes families are harder to reach with the truth about Jesus than are strangers.


Perhaps, it would be a special tradition you could start in your family, even if little children are not in your get-together. I think it meant a lot to everyone there - it truly did focus our attention on our dear Savior's birth.


Happy Birthday, Sweet Jesus

and

A Blessed Christmas to you all....



Cynthia K.











48 comments:

  1. We Wish You a Merry♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Christmas♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪We Wish You a Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Christmas ♥ ♥ ♥We Wish You A Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Christmas ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ And a Happy New Year!!! Merry Christmas to everyone........

    Merry Christmas!
    (borrowed from Angela)

    Sandie

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  2. Hi Cynthia,
    What a wonderful memory and tradition. That is very sad that the girl did not know how to spell Jesus. Hope your holidays are going well and that all is calm at your house this Christmas night!
    Valerie

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  3. I just wanted to let you know how sorry I am that you lost your mother this year. I lost mine in 2003. It just plain hurts. So know that I am thinking of you. Sandie

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  4. Hi Cynthia, Thank you so much for visiting with me tonight. I am in love with your post here. What a wonderful and sweet thing for you to do for your family. And the tradition you have set. I bet none of them will ever forget that Christmas and the special story and cake. The special birthday party!

    I will be thinking of you and pray a little prayer of strength for you. I lost my husbasnd in 2000 and lo and behold ended up finding another special man. The man I think the Lord intended for me all along and we have been married over five years. My parents both died in the 1980's and it is still hard at Christmas remembering all the years we were together and knowing they're just absent from the rest of the family. But I heard something tonite on TV from a woman whose child had been murdered and that was that she knew the child had not been HERS but a loan from God and he just needed the child back, and I thought this was so profound. I hope the new year will bring you peace, love, health and happiness. Love, Mollye

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  5. My mother in law did this every Christmas for her grandchildren. Yes, it was a wonderful tradition indeed!
    p.s. love your last post too Cynthia. Best wishes for a truly Happy and Healthy New Year!
    xo Roberta

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  6. Such a beautiful memory for you, Cynthia. I hope you have a wonderful & blessed New Year, sweetie.
    hugs,
    Sherry

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  7. I didn't hear of the resurection of Jesus until I was 16. There are many who have never heard. ♥

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  8. Absolutely the most important and right thing to do. GOOD FOR YOU.
    We in our family...unfortunately have a young collage age atheist ...which I often wake up in the middle of the night crying over and praying for.
    Our family Christmas Dinner is always at my daughter's home..and I don't feel like I could impose on them to do this...or at least I have not to this point..but you know, NEXT year I will do just that.
    I WILL DO IT !!
    Cynthia, you are a dear sweet friend , and a FAITHFUL PRAYER WARRIOR.
    Thank you for praying for my daugther during her current stay in the hosptial.

    Rose ~
    http://delightfulclutter.blogspot.com/

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  9. Wishing you a beautiful New Year Cynthia.....thank you for taking the time to visit my blog as well~ Janet

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  10. What a wonderful story and great memory. Have a wonderful New Year. Stella

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  11. Wishing you a happy new year. Sandie

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  12. Have a safe and Happy New Year.

    God bless
    Heidi

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  13. What an absolutely wonderful story. When I was growing up we had a birthday cake for Jesus. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. If you go back to older posts you will see all of my cloches. The ones on the floor I got at Hobby Lobby ½ off. I do love them too!
    Have a wonderful new year.
    Smiles, alice

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  14. A beautiful story and yes there are many who do not understand the birthday of Jesus

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  15. What a sweet story. You are so right, people forget what we are really celebrating. I have 3 small ones I think I will adopt your tradition as one of our own.
    Lisa

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  16. Dear Cynthia...I've never known someone who has lost as many close family members as you have this year. :( :....(. I'm soooo sorry for ALL of your losses. I can't imagine how you have handled it all...with grace and dignity and the love of the Lord, no doubt.

    I welcome your sweet company...and I in turn and following you back. Now I can peek in on a regular basis to see what you are up to.

    Blessings to you sweet friend. 2010 is your year of praise.

    Love, Rebecca

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  17. Cynthia ~ Know that you are continued in prayer for a blessed new year filled with joy & wonderful moments. Hugs, TTFN ~Marydon

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  18. Hi Cynthia,
    I hope your holidays were wonderful my friend.
    I've tried recently to leave you comments, and haven't been able to get them to post. I know it's something on my end, but I'm just hoping this one will make it through to you to let you know I love my visits here.
    Have a wonderful new year and I will be following you around as well.
    hugs

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  19. What a beautiful post! don't you just love memorable traditions? Those babies will now pass this on to their babies, and so on and so on...Hope you had a beautiful one! Here's to a safe and loving 2010! xo...deb

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  20. We'll cheer each other on this year! Wishes to you for a happy and very healthy 2010.

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  21. Dear sweet Cynthia, You have started the most beautiful tradition in your family at Christmas. They will always remember & cherish this special moment that you so lovingly gave to them.
    Wishing you a New Year filled with much love, happiness and many, many Blessings!
    Thank you so much for your beautiful words you left for me on my blog. I want you and your blog to be a part of my new year too sweetie.
    Hugs, Carol Anne

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  22. Cynthia,

    This is absolutely beautiful! My heart breaks to think that there are people out there that don't know that Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Christ! I suppose since I always knew the reason I just assumed that everone else did too. You no doubt have planted the seed for the younmg woman at the grocery store, I pray that the seed grows and that she too learns the true meaning of Christmas:). God Bless you in the year to come. I am so glad that you visited my blog and left a kind comment. I look forward to visiting again:).

    Blessings,

    Kim

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  23. I did this with my children when they were young. My daughter's birthday is Christmas Eve and I always told her how special that she shared birthdays with Jesus!

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  24. What a great thing to do Cynthia! I agree that sometimes it is our families that are hardest to reach. Every year for as long as I can remember when we have Christmas out at my parents the kids dress up as Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds etc. and come out into the living room as we sing carols. I remember MY babies being baby Jesus and now my kids babies have taken that spot. My dad also reads the Christmas story every year from the Bible. Wonderful precious memories!!
    Hugs~
    ps. also so so sad that the girl at the store had no clue. I am sure there are many just like her...God love them!

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  25. Cynthia amor, what a beautiful post...My eyes teared up, because I am one of the guilty ones...I used to shop for just the right gift, always afraid to disappoint someone...but this year was so different for all of our family, We focused on the children gifts only, because lets face it, seeing their eyes when they open even the tiniest of gifts is so worth it...but us adults, we know all the losses of our loved ones that we have suffered in just 3 short years, so for us, it was about being together, celebrating jesus and our family, trying to cherish each other because we all know only too well that next Christmas we might be one less at our gathering....I thought about you my dear friend, and came by often looking for new posts to comment on :) but I also knew your losses were great and that you were more than likely dealing with them at this time, like so many of us out there that are going thru the same...in a a few days is the anniversary of my Ita's (grandma) passing, she was truly the light of my life...everything that I am...I am because of her, this is the first year that I don't feel like I am dying inside from missing her so much, 3 years ago on my birthday we were on a flight to take her home to be buried...last year my daughters made me celebrate my birthday, they wanted me to take the day back and make it my own again...I didn't understand why at the time...I do now...This year on the 18th when I celebrate my birthday, I also celebrate her memory and how much I was loved by her...she was 93 when she passed...how blesses was I to have her for so much of my life :) I thank God for that, for I have a lifetime of memories to wrap around my heart. I hope for you dear friend, that you and I and all of us in the New Year can live life to the fullest, cherish our loved ones that are still here and that when we remember our loved ones that have passed on to a better place, that it isn't with heartbreak...but with much love and happiness that we had them in our lives for as long as we did and that we are so lucky to have the ability to remember...I hope your heart isn't hurting too much dear friend, know that so many of us feel your pain and that we are all thinking of you too, I am so lucky the day you came across my lil blog and chose to become my friend. Much love to you amor, please feel free to email me anytime, and if you EVER feel like just talking, please let me know, I will give you my phone numbers, you can reach me at anytime, day or night. Much love to you dear friend! Besos, Rose

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  26. Happy New Year Dear Cynthia. I was so touched by the comments you left for me. It meant so much to hear that you'd missed me. This Christmas started out with me feeling so alone, no decorating, no gifts, no holiday spirit around me it's turned into a beautiful Christmas because of people like you. The dearest, kindest, most caring people who have made me feel loved when I felt alone and worthless. God has provided me with several very special people, one of which is you. I believe people are brought into peoples life at certain points for certain reasons and probably un-beknownest to you, you have a conduit for the Lord. You and your kindness have made a difference in my life. Thank you!

    The story of you sharing with your family is just so beautiful. You're right it is very hard to share with the ones we love the most. There is that nagging thought that as they smile they all are going to talk about how pious I think I am. It's very hard to do the right thing and share Jesus with others.

    I can just picture those sweet children's eyes. I'm sure this made such an impact on them, it will stay with them the rest of their lives and possibly become the tradition that they share with their children. I imagine it felt like a magical moment and that all the adults were moved too.

    You're in my prayers dear Cynthia. I wish you all the best in 2010 and the new decade. Much love, Tracy :)

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  27. I was so happy to see another Texas Blogger out there! Hope you are having a good start to the New Year. Thank you for becoming a follower. I hope you will find interesting things & enjoy your visits.

    Thank you for your hugs, prayers & support for Reba & I. I am waiting with baited breath for bloodwork results on Monday. Hugs! Charlene

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  28. Hi Cynthia, thank you for your sweet visit to Bella Vista. It will be fun getting to know you.

    Happy New Year, sweetie.

    Hugs, Barb ♥

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  29. It just makes me sad to hear stories of people not knowing the Lord...and how to spell it. Hope you come over and see my new post. You may just like it and want to make one too. It has many names King...Lord...Jesus...Abba..etc,

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  30. Hi Cynthia,
    What a lovely story! I just wanted to stop by and say thank you for your comments and for following along on my blog. I am happy to follow your lovely blog as well. :)
    Wishing you a beautiful 2010!
    ~Bella

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  31. Hi Cynthia
    Thank you so much for visiting over at my place and for entering my giveaway.
    happy New year
    ~ Tina

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  32. Thanks for stopping by and letting me know you enjoyed my music. I am never sure if other people enjoy my selection or not. Blessings in the New Year. Stella

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  33. Hi! Thanks for entering my give away! I will be drawing it on the 10th. It's a wonderful cookbook and if you read The Pioneer Woman's blog you will enjoy it even more.

    Loved your post! How totally sad to think there is someone who doesn't know how to spell the name of Jesus! A friends grandson asked once how come Jesus was named a swear word because I guess that was the only context he heard it used in. How very sad! Love your tradition and I think I will start next Christmas doing the same, my grands are 6 and 7 and know the real story of Christmas from Sunday School and church but this would reinforce it even more! Thank you for such a nice post!!!

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  34. Cynthia, this is one of the sweetest traditions I can imagine. What an impact that had on those three little ones. And I'm hoping that the young woman who decorated the cake had something to think about also! Hope your Christmas and New Years were wonderful!
    hugs and blessings,
    Debra

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  35. Cynthia,

    What a great idea! Birthday cake and candles.

    I wish that I had thought about doing that this year...my four-year-old granddaughter would have loved it.

    But I'll sure have a cake and candles for Christmas next year.

    Thank you for stopping by my place. I'm so glad that you did. Because now, I get to follow you.

    Sweet dreams.

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  36. Hi,

    I forgot to ask you about your dream.

    You know, the online shop.

    I'd love to hear the details.

    Sweet dreams.

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  37. Hello Cynthia
    That is my dear sisters name Cynthia Kay...is your middle name Kay?
    So sorry to hear that you lost your mom this year, I am sure you miss her dearly. I lost my dad this time last year and I do miss him but I know he is having a better time with his Father.
    A couple days before he passed he shook his finger at me and said "don't you cry after I leave I will be with my Heavenly Father!" and then added with a smile "you're not that far behind me..." In context he is right.
    I loved your Christmas story, this year we didn't read the Christmas story my dad always did and I had planned on it but it just got too hectic and it has bothered me.
    My very best to you this new year
    Blessings
    Rebecca

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  38. Hello Cynthia!
    What a very beautiful and heartwarming post. I think the children will understand why we are so joyous about Christmas because you brought it to what they understand...a birthday cake. I bet they will always remember and cherish this Christmas.
    Wishing you happiness and health this New Year.
    Many Blessings,
    Mary

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  39. Dear Cynthia. I just wanted to come by and check on you. You're incredible kindness towards me and everyone sticks with me. You're such a sweet heart. I just love you to pieces. I hope your doing good and everything is right in your world.
    May God bless you each and everyday.

    Love, Tracy :)

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  40. What a great post. Our family too has the same tradition except with snowballs(icecream wrapped in coconut. We light them and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and then sing Silent night. It's a great thing on Christmas Eve to focus on what Christmas is all about. That is sad that young women didn't have a clue.

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  41. Hello, dear Cynthia,
    Thank you for sharing this beautiful post with us and for the reminder of what Christmas is really all about. I, too, am saddened that the young lady seemed oblivious as to what we celebrated at Christmas. I am wishing you a blessed new year in 2010! Thank you so much for stopping by for a visit and brightening my day! Vicki

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  42. Dear Cynthia. I was so happy to hear from you, no matter how short it might be.

    I hate to hear that your depressed, sad and exhausted. I knew something must have been wrong. You've really been on my mind and I hadn't seen any post lately. I don't want to sound nosy so I will just tell you this. What ever you might be going through, I'm happy to be here for you. If it helps to share, I'm happy to listen. If it's something you want to keep to yourself but would like to talk to someone but avoid the subject, I'm your girl. You just tell me and I'm here for you in any capacity you need. I battle depression and I can certainly understand the depths it can take you too.

    If you aren't up to visiting me, I'll stop by and check in on you, if you don't mind. Just to let you know I'm thinking of you. I know when I'm depressed I always worry that those who love me will take it personal if I don't talk to them and that only adds to the un-needed pressure.

    If you decide you want to talk let me know and I can give you my phone # through email. Or we can always just visit by email.

    Your in my prayers Sweetheart. Love you, Tracy :)

    exhausted and depressed and sad - haven't been able to post since Christmas Eve - my point is, I know you will understand when I simply say that I appreciate the notes you left me and that I love you. Let's be praying for each other...

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  43. Hi Cynthia, You are the WINNER of my Birthday Present book and I will post about it tomorrow. Please though send me your address so I can mail the book to you. Thanks Mollye
    dixiegardenself@yahoo.com

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  44. thanks for stopping by. I have entered you in my giveaway... good LUCK!

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  45. Cynthia darling thank you for stopping by and for the sweet comment you left behind, much appreciated. I always enjoy your visit and look forward to taking tea with you in 2010.

    Love & Hugs
    Duchess

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