Today I went to one of the best parties I’ve been to this year, and I go to a LOT of parties (a job hazard). This party wasn’t the best because it was the most fun for me, but because I think it’s the kind of party Jesus would have thrown. Luke 14:12-14 says, “Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Our church adopted three women’s shelters this past year. We’ve spent time building fences, painting rooms, mowing lawns, cooking meals, and in general helping in whatever way we can. It’s been a wonderful blessing. But for Christmas we decided to invite the ladies and their children to our church and throw a party for them in honor of Jesus’ birthday. We hung lights in the gym, festively decorated the tables, made a place for Santa to take pictures with the children, prepared crafts, and loaded all the presents next to the Santa’s seat. We had table hostesses and elves running around serving a catered dinner and some Christmas music playing in the background.
I think everyone expected a dime-store Santa with a pillow in his suit and a glue on beard. When the REAL Santa walked in, the children went silent. Jim, as we call him, makes the real Santa look like a fake. He has a long, white beard, long, white hair, wire-rimmed glasses, and an amazing, hand-made Santa suit. He led everyone in Happy Birthday to Jesus and then sat down on his chair and the kids came to get their picture taken with him. When they were done the elves brought a large bag full of gifts for that child–remote-controlled airplanes, trains, dolls, games, and dozens of other things. They ripped the toys open with a vengeance and began to play straightway.
The time ended with bagging up the loot, putting on coats, and hugging Santa goodbye. The thought of spending Christmas in a shelter hardly brings holiday cheer, but the knowledge that we had a small part in making a tough Christmas a little better made it all worth while. I could not be more proud of all the people who so generously gave to this project–gifts, time, creativity, light-hanging, serving, cleaning, and the list goes on. What a wonderful party…and no chance they will pay us back.
