Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: birthday (05/23/05)
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TITLE: A Reason to Celebrate | Previous Challenge Entry
By Castle Andrews
05/29/05 -
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Yes, but I still don’t understand why it is that each year for the last five years you’ve thrown me a birthday party. I’ve never shown up. Still you cook and decorate. You invite people I’ve never met and know nothing about. Do they even know that it’s a birthday party and for whom?
Yes, I told them about you and how happy I am that God has placed you in my life. You may not realize it, but you are special. When I met you and heard your amazing story and how God saved you, I knew God put us together. And even though you never show up I choose to celebrate you. And give God praise for creating you and allowing me to know you. You may not understand the love I have for you, but God blessed me the day I met you.
I sat holding the phone; tears pierced my eyes as I tried not to cry. I love you too, but I don’t throw you parties.
I know you do, and you don’t have to throw me parties. I choose to throw you a special birthday party each year. And if you choose not to come that’s your choice. I’m still having it and you’re welcome to come.
Tell me why? Do you just need a reason to have a party and use me as an excuse?
No, I don’t need a reason. You really don’t understand do you?
No, I don’t. Frankly, after the first time that I didn’t show up, I would not have continued to have them. But you just keep going; you’re like the energizer bunny. Every year putting out the expense and effort on a party that I never come to. It’s baffling to me.
After meeting you and hearing how God saved you. And about the life you had prior to His presence in your life, I knew.
Knew what?
That God had great things in store for you. That no one had ever thrown a birthday party in your honor before. And that I wanted to be that person who honored you and hosted it each year. I choose to celebrate you and all God has and is creating you to be. My friend and my sister at heart. You bless me and if I can do nothing else, I choose to bless you in the only way I know how. Happy Birthday, I really do love you.
As I hung the phone up, I cried. She was right; I’d never had a birthday party before that I could remember. Until now I never knew that having one was anything special. I sat there thinking of the day Shelly and I had first met. Our worlds were so far apart. She had been raised knowing God and His love for her. She married her high school sweetheart and they have been in the ministry ever since. He a pastor and she a pastor’s wife. I was the one who was blessed. Every time she spoke to me I felt honored. I had not know God very long when we first met.
When God saved me I was a rough around the edges street kid. And because of my history thought that God did not want anything to do with me. I was not raised knowing of God’s or anyone’s love. My mother had been killed when I was three and from there I was passed from place to place. The only time I went to church was when I was staying at someone’s home that happened to go that Sunday.
On March 24, 1984 God rescued me. I had had enough of all that this life had to offer. I sat down to end my life. But before I was able to plunge the knife that I had into my stomach, He placed a man there in my presence to tell me about Him. And how He really did love me. God chose me that day and began a new life in me. My life has forever changed. And now as I sit here thinking of all that He has done and the people like Shelly that He has placed in my life, I guess I do have a reason to celebrate.
I wonder what I should wear?
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