Enjoying a Birthday Party

When I was five years old, going on six, I went to kindergarten, where I was made fun of (is that the same as being bullied?). I will never forget one such incident. Perhaps it is my earliest school memory.  It was Halloween and we were told to wear our costumes to school.  My mother had purchased a pig mask (no doubt on a sale table in some thrift store).  I wore it to school because my mother bought it, and it was mine.  However, my classmates laughed at me all that day and called me non-flattering names. I remember crying my way home at the close of class that day.  Two months later I had my sixth birthday.  I begged not to have a party, but we had one anyway.  My early birthday parties were always planned so others could have fun.  Seldom for my pleasure. One year we went horseback riding.  Another year we rode the roller coaster at  Playland Park.  Neither were my choice activities, nor was I good at either one.  Needless to say, I grew up disliking birthday parties and avoiding as many of them as I could.  Last week I attended another six-year old birthday party.  This time it was for my great-grandson, Crawford Graham Kennedy.  By his choice, it was a Dinosaur theme party.  His friends had a great time and so did he – and so did I, as I enjoyed the festivities with him.  I’m glad I lived long enough to enjoy birthdays, even if they belong to others.  I don’t have many birthdays left of my own, so it is important to enjoy others’ celebrations.  Happy birthday Crawford.  Blessings on you as you, “observe days and months and seasons and years” (Galatians 4:10).  I look forward to your next birthday party – as long as it doesn’t include horses or roller coasters.