The Reason for the Season

I am not surprised when people come to me right before Christmas to order a birthday cake. It seems a lot of people have birthdays right before Christmas and parents especially want to make sure the child's birthday is celebrated separately from the big holiday so their child does not get gipped. So when I got the request from one of my co-workers for a birthday cake I wasn't shocked, I just couldn't remember any of her grandchildren having a birthday in December. When I asked how she wanted the cake decorated she said sort of Christmasy with lots of green and red. Now I was stunned and just looking at her questioningly asking what she wanted on the cake. She nonchalantly replied, "Happy Birthday Jesus." Well that cleared it up for me.
She went on to explain that they youth at her church decided they wanted to have a birthday party for Jesus this year in place of a Christmas party and what would a birthday party be without a cake? As we talked she gave me permission to jazz it up from a regular sheet cake to something with a little more pizazz, that could still feed 50. HMMMMMM....now this deserved some special thought and a little something extra.
Now you have to know Aggie to know that creativity was necessary, especially when she decides the cake needs to be devils food. We agreed on a baby cake and whatever else might work. I must say I have never done a birthday cake for Jesus, so this is a first! I started with a sheet cake so we could feed a whole host of people and then a cake that I use primarily for baby showers, but with a little nip and tuck, thought it would work here. Adding a manger, tree, and star...I think we had it all.
I delivered it to her church and was greeted by young ones and adults all dressed in red tops and black slacks or skirts. They were decorating for a big birthday bash. The kids had made birthday cards for Jesus and they were being hung around the room. It was a very festive atmosphere, and different from the traditional Christmas party. These kids knew what they were doing and they were so excited to do it. One little boy ran up to me and gave me the biggest hug. He asked me if I had a son because I hug like a mom, I told him no, but I sure do like to hug. Everyone seemed tickled with the cake (even though I had to do a little patch work thanks to the pot holes between my house and the church). I have no doubt they had a great celebration of the season...for the right reasons.