Birthday Celebrations

Ever had that possibly awkward experience of a proud grandparent saying, “Hold on, I’ve got a picture!”

That used to be followed up with grandpa pulling out his wallet or grandma rifling through her purse to find hers so they could show you a picture of a grandchild. Perhaps the conversation mentioned grandchildren, so you were treated to a photo of each. But after a few moments, it was done.

That was then.

Now, even grandparents will exclaim, “O wait, you’ve got to see this! I’ve got pictures!” And out comes the phone, a few swipes to find the gallery, and a seemingly endless supply of digital pics of the grands.

I say potentially awkward because sometimes you may not be quite as excited to be regaled with the photos as grandma and grandpa are to show them!

OK, with that acknowledged on my part, I’ll risk proceeding…but will spare the reader an endless stream of pics.

Last weekend, we celebrated grandchild #4’s first birthday, and it was quite the party. Not as lavish as many parents throw these days, but much better than what I remember for my first birthday!

Anyway, since some older siblings and cousins would be attending, our daughter scheduled an hour or so at a nearby indoor trampoline facility—for the kids. Grandma and grandpa were tasked with going to the restaurant and decorating the reserved party room. I’m sure playing on the trampolines would’ve been much more fun, but I suppose my body is grateful for the decorating assignment.

We filled balloons with helium and tied them to chairs, hung some streamers, and decorated the birthday girl’s highchair throne. No sooner had we tied off the last balloon, but the ramped-up kids arrived with parents and other grandparents in tow.

The waitress, bless her, patiently took our orders, tended to everything graciously, and promptly served lunch.

Granddaughter hadn’t a clue what all the fuss was about…why she was dressed in some strange outfit…why she had a crown on her head (for a few moments, anyway)….

Nor did she get the concept of a birthday cake.

Some kids that age—you’ve seen them—as soon as the cake is placed in front of them dig in with both hands and sometimes face.

Not our granddaughter.

When the little pink, strawberry delight with one glowing candle was set down in front of her, she was mesmerized by the candle. Once that was removed, she gingerly reached out a finger and touched the cake softly. Her response echoed her mother’s from 30-something years ago!

Mom had to help her taste her fingertip.

Her eyes reminded me of the biblical story of the battle-weary Jonathan tasting some honey he’d found in the woods. His eyes—as did hers—lit up as the sugar hit the sweet spot on the tongue.

But she still didn’t dig in. And that doesn’t make for good 1^st birthday pictures, does it?

As I watched our daughter at this point, I had a flashback to her first birthday. Like her daughter, she acted as if she didn’t want to get her fingers dirty (imagine that!), reaching out to touch, but gently. Clearly, she needed help knowing what you’re supposed to do when someone puts an entire cake in front of you. Yep. Mom’s guiding hands led her child’s reluctant hands into and through the frosting, deep into the cake beneath.

One would think said child would eagerly lick the deliciousness off her hands, right? Nope. First, a look of surprise; then, quivering lips, followed by crying. Until mom directed hand to mouth and the sweetness hit the tongue. Even still, the messy hands were not appreciated!

After cake came the gifts, of course. Plenty of them. Mom observed she’ll need to set up a line item in her budget for batteries and be sure to direct investments in Duracell.

After a couple of hours (3 ½ if you add in the trampoline park), the party was over. We cleaned up the room, distributed the balloons, loaded the cars, and went our separate ways.

Reflecting on the party later when I was reviewing some things for church on Sunday, it occurred to me that there are almost no biblical accounts of birthday parties.

I could think of several wedding celebrations, like the one in Cana when Jesus turned water to wine.

Birth celebrations are recorded, too. Abraham and Sarah celebrated the birth of Isaac. Naomi celebrated the birth of grandson Obed. Hannah celebrated the birth of Samuel. Shepherds and magi celebrated the birth of Jesus.

But I could come up with only two birthday parties.

It’s not that birthdays weren’t noted. They had to be. Scripture records the ages of too many individuals. We’re told so-and-so was x-number of years old when…he had his first child…began his reign as king…died. Birthdays were noted, but it seems birthday celebrations were rare.

As I said, I found only two, and both were for political leaders: a pharaoh and a regional “king.” Maybe everyday people like you and I couldn’t afford such luxuries.

The first party is significant because it eventually brought the long-overdue release of an innocent man. (See Genesis 40:5-41:44)

Joseph, son of Jacob, had been sold into Egyptian slavery by his jealous, malicious brothers. As a slave, he was falsely accused of attempted rape by his master’s lustful wife, landing him in prison. He languished in prison, but in time successfully interpreted the dream of Pharoah’s imprisoned butler.

For his own birthday, Pharaoh threw a lavish party for all his servants. In a gesture of generosity, he released the butler, fulfilling Joseph’s dream interpretation.

But Joseph remained forgotten in prison for two more years—until Pharoah had a dream. That’s when the butler, released for Pharoah’s birthday party, remembered Joseph. The rest is pleasant history.

The second birthday party is significant because it ended up in a woeful disaster! (See Mark 6:14-29)

Herod Antipas ruled over the regions of Galilee and Perea in Israel during the life of Jesus (from 4 BC–AD 39). He had a love-hate relationship with John the Baptist.

On one hand, he couldn’t stand the guy because John called out the king for his illegitimate marriage to his sister-in-law. That was enough to raise Herod’s ire, so he put John in prison. The Bible says he would’ve killed him were it not for John’s popularity among the people.

On the other hand, Herod surprisingly enjoyed listening to the strange preacher! Remember, there were no YouTube or TikTok videos to entertain a bored king, so perhaps John provided a measure of entertainment for the monarch.

Until Herod’s birthday party. Whatever entertainment value John might offer, there was no competing with Herod’s stepdaughter and her sensuous dance. So moved—or aroused—by her antics, Herod offered her anything she wanted. She opted for and received John’s head.

Two birthday parties.

One marked by selfless generosity and used to secure deliverance.

The other marked by selfish indulgence and used to exact revenge.

It occurs to me that in our modern celebrations we can foster either, can’t we? Surely, the guests at a party should express generosity toward the birthday boy or girl, and we may need to help our children have a generous spirit in their birthday gift giving.

But perhaps we also need to make sure we encourage the honoree to be generous to his or her guests. We certainly don’t want to foster an attitude of selfish indulgence and entitlement in gift receiving.

There’s no telling where that will lead!