THE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

I felt so honored. A birthday celebration was being held in my honor. I had gotten an invitation to come and join the celebration. I was so happy.

There was just one problem. I was unsure where the celebration was to be held. I would have to look around town to see where I should be going.

As I traveled down the road coming into the little village I saw many houses with decorations befitting a celebration of colossal merit.

There were lights that shone at the windows and doors of many homes. Twinkling lights danced about in the crisp night air. The fresh fallen snow glistened like tiny diamonds. I saw shiny ornaments that had been carefully selected to adorn the beautiful trees that had been cut just to celebrate this occasion - my birthday. I felt humbled by this scene.

At the edge of town I saw all of the street lights along Main Street had been dressed up to herald the party that was to be held in my honor The shop windows were filled with special displays which were pulled out once a year just for this occasion. There were shoppers hurriedly checking each shop to find just the right gift, the gift that would undoubtedly be the best of the assortment of gifts being offered at the birthday celebration. There were wonderful aromas wafting from homes as I passed along the way. It was truly a marvelous sight to behold.

But, I knew it was time to find the place where my birthday commemoration was being held. I saw a house just ahead, people were gathering there. It looked as though every aunt, uncle, cousin, husband and wife, as well as all their children were gathering here for a great celebration. I knew this must be the place.

I fell in step with those entering this gathering place. Everyone seemed so happy. Smiles were given away freely as were the exchange of greetings. The cold air brought puffs of steam as the villagers quipped regards to one another. I was sure this must be the place. I knew a gathering of this size would surely be a good place to celebrate my birthday. Music started playing just about that time. The people all sat down to listen. The music was heavenly. I relaxed in a seat close to the back door of the gathering place and got lost in the sounds of the organ.
Soon I realized this was not the place to which I had been invited. This was not the place where my birthday was being celebrated. Why, I was hardly mentioned at all. There were songs being sung and a story was read, but the people; the people were hardly listening at all. They were shushing the children at times.

I noticed one with a shopping list, and still others lost in thought far away from this gathering. A few were trying to recall things left to do before they were ready to celebrate my birthday party. Many of those at the gathering seemed eager to be gone from this place. They were eager to hurry to somewhere else. Saddened, when the gathering had ended, I left, unnoticed. I continued my journey to find the place I had been invited.

I came upon a home where many people were gathering to enjoy a banquet. The women were carrying in a variety of foods which were made special for this occasion. Each woman had worked for days to prepare their addition to the meal. Each lady seemed ready to accept adoration, hoping her sumptuous fare would be considered the best dish at the banquet. The men and children were carrying gifts wrapped in elegant paper. Ribbons and bows were carefully protected so as not to be crushed, causing the package to look second-rate. As I observed the plethora of gifts, I wondered if there could be anything left in the shops at all. I was again so happy to see the care folks had taken to make my birthday special. The crowd gathered inside.

I stepped inside the door and stood. I stood waiting for someone to notice that I had arrived. I stood there hoping someone would notice the guest who was supposed to be honored at their party was here, waiting to be recognized. The food was laid out on long tables and placed just right to make the festive occasion perfect. The chinaware shone and the silver was wiped clean of spots, as were the stemmed goblets placed close to the punch bowl within easy reach of anyone who desired to drink. It reminded me of something in the past, it was something about living water to drink. I was jolted out of my reminiscence by the lusty call of someone announcing it was time to eat.

In no time at all, the beautiful banquet was in a shambles and with full bellies, the entire group moved to the area of the decorated tree where they had placed all the gifts that I had supposed were mine.

A young boy was sitting down beside the tree picking up each gift and reading a name written on it. With squeals of delight, someone would quickly gather up the package and start ripping off the pretty paper. Soon all of the gifts were passed around and everyone had a gift ... but there was none for me. There were no gifts there for me, in fact, my name was not even mentioned. I realized this too was not the place I had been invited.

I quietly slipped out the door unnoticed. The wind was picking up a bit more, and I felt a chill as I pulled my cloak closer. I seemed to be walking into the wind. I could not help but think this was just about par for the course of the evening.

The gatherings I had visited were not in my honor. The gatherings, though very festive, had nothing whatsoever to do with wanting to celebrate the day I was born. Again, I felt sad and alone. But I knew my invitation had come from somewhere, and I was determined to find it.

I walked on through the town, seeing nothing that would cause me to think anyone even knew me let alone want to celebrate my special day. There was a humble little house just ahead, and I thought I should stop here to see if maybe someone there could tell me where the celebration was to be held.

I was beginning to get a chill from the cold and if nothing more, I needed to stop and rest awhile. I knocked at the door of a little cabin which had only one small candle in the window. One of the panes had a board taped to it to keep out the cold. The fireplace looked warm and inviting. Soon, the door opened just enough for me to see inside. The frail old woman stood there with a smile on her face. The wind, through the door, blew her shawl from her shoulders. As she clutched it close she asked me to please step inside as it was just too cold to stand out in that weather. I was surprised at her hospitality, as I had a feeling strangers were not welcomed with open arms in this village.

I gladly accepted her kind invitation and stepped inside, closing the door quickly behind me. I was invited over to the warm fire and was handed a cup of hot cocoa to warm me inside.

I told the aged woman I was so glad to have found a friendly place to rest. I told her I was also glad she had accepted me into her home. It was then she told me I was not a stranger to her at all. She said she had been waiting for me to arrive. She had been sitting there by the fire, rejoicing because it was my birthday. I smiled and sat down close to the fire with this one soul who understood how to celebrate my birthday.She offered me a fresh baked roll swiped with butter and another cup of cocoa. She bowed her head and gave thanks as we sat together.

I listened as she read from a worn old book which had been well-used. She turned to a familiar story and read about the night I came to be born of a virgin long ago, in the city of Bethlehem. With labored breath she read of how the angels had told the shepherds of my birth. She told of the struggles I had faced before I died.

And then she leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes and relived the day she had asked me to come into her life. She opened her eyes for only a moment and thanked me for all I had given her. She said she was ready to go now to live in my home with me forever.

We left the shabby little cottage on the edge of town together. We both knew the true celebration of my birthday was not in those big gatherings. There, no one even mentioned my name. All of the glitz and glamor was not a celebration of me at all. Not one bowed their head to thank me for anything.

The true celebration was in the heart of the bent, old woman who accepted me as LORD of her life and then waited patiently for me to come take her to her new home on this, my birthday.
Hazel Williams-Jann
© Dec 2002


The Birthday Celebration
by
Hazel Williams-Jann

Published by
HWJ Enterprises
70 East Fourth Street
London, OH 43140-1258

Illustrations by:
Jason Mascari
Sue Henthorn - front cover
Betty Mitchell

Copyright © 2002
by
Hazel Williams-Jann
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

Dedicated To
My Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ
Acknowledgments:

I wish to express my appreciation to those who continue to encourage me by continuing to read the thoughts I put on the written page.

A special thank you to Ken Robison who spent hours helping me with my computer software skills. Without his patience in teaching me to navigate the word processor, I could not have completed this work.

And, to those who so graciously supplied the graphics, I applaud your abilities and am humbled by your kindness..

Last, but not least, I must thank the One who gave me the ability to write. Without Him, I could do nothing.

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Luke 2: 1-20 (KJV)
1. And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed 2. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10.And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.20. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

About the Author

Hazel Williams-Jann, a widow with five children, eleven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren began writing at an early age. Her first published writing was in high school. Throughout her life she has continued to put her thoughts on paper in the form of short stories and poetry with a personal touch. Many of her poems are in homes across America, some have even made their way overseas. Hazel continues to write articles for her local newspaper and other assorted publications.
The Birthday Celebration came together while observing how many chose to celebrate the birth of Christ one Christmas season.

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