Juliane’s Waco Birthday

I can’t believe Christmas is here already!  Even though I’ve been to three gatherings, and have three more to go, I have to admit I’m missing some of the seasonal stress usually associated with this time of year!

In Detroit I ran a Community Christmas Party every year that would begin in late September and end with an arena filled with 800 people and close to a 1000 presents for 360 kids.  As if that wasn’t enough , the past few years we added a food giveaway the same day that eventually passed out 1500 boxes of food.  It was such a rush, I would be on my feet from 7am til the last decoration was put back at the church around 9:30pm that night!  I loved being a part of so much giving, but I have to admit I am enjoying the gear down here in Waco.

My daughter Juliane’s birthday is today, December 20th.  She was born the night of the Christmas Party, making that year stick out in my mind.  We’ve always had a difficult time celebrating her birthday in the midst of so much ministry going on.  This year, being in a new school and a new community we were particularly stressed about making sure she had a good memory moment associated with her first birthday in Texas.  We set up a party at a local pizza place on par with Chucky Cheese, and invited her second grade class, in which half of the 20 kids showed up last friday night.  We had a good time, did the presents and games, past out cookies with the number “8″ on them in icing, packed up and went home.  On the way out the door my son Clay made the comment, “that was fun, it was Jude’s first birthday party!”

I couldn’t believe it!  In Detroit, with everything that developed around Christmas, we were always so stressed about creating “another thing” that we downplayed Jude’s birthday.  We would take her out with her best friend and go shopping, then hit a movie with cake and ice cream at her aunt’s house, but we never attempted a party due to the craziness of ministry.  I’ve ministered to thousands of kids over the past 11 years in Detroit, but this year I feel like I finally nailed it, I ministered to my own.

Jude wanted a “ice-skating” party, but we couldn’t find a rink within 1oo miles of where we live!  We stressed over how many kids would show up, or if she would have any “friends” of social status in her class grace us with their presence, but in the end the night turned out great.  She was beaming, and in the twinkle that was in her eyes I saw redemption.

Its such a classic tale this time of year.  We get so caught up in everything we forget about the most important part, this is really about a birthday celebration.  We’ve toned down what we do, and it has seemed like there is more time to focus on Jesus this year.  Family hasn’t taken a back seat to everyone else, and we’re not so busy trying to make the season special for the church that we’ve forgotten to set time aside to focus on what this is all about to begin with.  Jude’s birthday party seemed to bring it all together for me this year, and I’m so glad God was gracious to allow me to see it.  Do less, accomplish more!  God and family, worship and celebration, its pretty simple.  It sometimes just takes a trip to Peter Piper’s Pizza to figure it all out!