Rocked out to some good vibes on one of these!
“Come here Jay, I gotta show you something!” I was in a college apartment a few days ago, and an excited student was proudly displaying this big clunky machine with giant speakers. Most of his peers would have no idea what it was, but I sure did. A record player in all its glory! The memories flooded into my mind of vinyl stories from childhood, ruining favorite songs with an accidental scrape of the needle, and wondering to this day how on earth such a contraption works.
And since it’s almost Christmas, one particular record comes to mind called “The Birthday Party”. I was able to salvage enough of it digitally to share most of its story to our kids, and today I’ll share all of it with you. This funny little guy named Stanley Tutter is invited to a birthday party and shows up before the other guests arrive. But since all the gifts are there, he pokes and prods at them, figuring out what they are. Each one offers a uniquely meaningful story (and song) about what each giver appreciates about the recipient. SPOILER ALERT! At the end, the others happily arrive, and we discover who the birthday boy is: Jesus.
Maybe you’ve heard this one too?
I’m glad we still listen to some of these songs as a family, because the fact that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday party is so easy to forget. But it’s also so fun to remember! Just as you’ve enjoyed planning and throwing birthday parties for a special someone, how can we not invoke that excitement and creativity to throw our Creator and Savior a fabulous fiesta as well (Click to tweet)? There are so many unique ways for each of us to offer appreciation to him, but if you’re not currently in party-planning mode, here are a few that might get you thinking (if you haven’t thought of them already!)…
1. Give gifts to those Jesus cares for, not just to whom you care for
There are many ways to do this. Here’s one that is good to do with kids, but even better with adults. Especially adults who can buy almost everything they need or even want themselves, and probably more easily and enjoyably than you can. We call it a charity gift, but maybe “character gift” is a better name. Friends or family decide a dollar amount and draw names. Then you have to discover a charity aiding a cause or population that Jesus and your person would be the most passionate about. You donate to that organization, write a personal note commending what it is about Jesus and that person that led you to that choice, and wrap up the note and receipt to be opened on Christmas! Celebrating who someone is, Jesus included, is so much more meaningful than an object they may or may not want.
2. Make Christmas a time to maximize using possessions to honor Jesus, not to maximize possessions.
Most of us simply have too much stuff, often way too much. Especially after Christmas. So instead of filling drawers, shelves, pockets, and bins with unneeded or redundant items, make Jesus’ birthday party theme a gift-giving scavenger hunt! Have whoever lives with you go explore your whole dwelling and collect into one big pile anything of theirs they’ve either rarely used in the last year or have enough functional duplicates of. Gifts are meant to be sacrificial (Jesus’ certainly was!), so encourage each other to make that pile bigger than you all might. Then agree upon throwing anything away that can’t be given as a gift, donating the rest to benefit a charity that Jesus and you all would be excited about! Our kids truly enjoy giving even larger toys away, knowing it brings Jesus the same joy their birthday gifts bring them; they’ve even offered several brand-new Christmas gifts! It’s an awesome way to declutter and very tangibly throw a true birthday party for God at the same time!
3. Reminisce about Jesus, not just each other, at his birthday party
Recall that the pursuit of Christianity is the pursuit of God and intimacy with him, more than anything else. That’s why heaven is a marriage banquet (Revelation 19:6-9, 21:2-4)! If you’re throwing your soulmate a birthday party, it’s about them, not the guests! As you celebrate Christmas, remind each other of Christ. Share how you’ve seen him work, characteristics of him that you’ve learned to value, and the ways his word has helped you know him better! We sing to others on their birthdays, so sing your favorite carols and/or “Happy Birthday” to him! Remember this and every Christmas by honoring the previous year of God’s existence and eagerly pursuing who he is in the coming one.
Merry Christmas to you all, but if it’s Christ’s Mass we’re gathering for, than it should be the most merry for him! Use your creativity and gratitude for your life, loved ones, and all God has given you to throw him the greatest birthday party ever (Click to tweet)!
To further explore why God has created us primarily to enjoy perfect community with him and the fulfilling journey that invites us into, check out Healing Hereafter, my free ebook series. Instantly download whatever part interests you right here. And whatever the holiday season brings your way, I wish you peace, love, and hope more than any year prior.
