A Party for Agnes

A few years ago, a pastor friend was in Hawaii on business.

Because of the time change, he was wide awake in the middle of the night and decided to wander out from his hotel in search of some fresh air and a cup of coffee.

While my friend made small talk with Harry, the guy behind the café counter, the door opened and several young women entered.  It was about three a.m. and the women were obviously prostitutes.  Apparently, they were regular customers.

One of them, whose name was Agnes, mentioned that the next day would be her birthday. No one seemed to care.

Quietly my friend said, “Hey, Harry.  Tomorrow, let’s give Agnes a birthday party!”

The next morning at three a.m., he arrived at the café carrying balloons and streamers.  Harry had baked a big cake.  In walked Agness and her friends.

My friend and Harry sang Happy Birthday, and everyone joined in.  When Agnes saw the cake, she began to cry.

Harry got a knife to cut the cake, but Agnes said, “I’ve never had a birthday cake before, and I’d like to take it home to show my mother.  I’d like to keep it for a few days before we cut it.”

Dear Friend, we may not look like Agnes or act like her, but from God’s viewpoint, we’re all much the same. We’ve all sinned and fallen short of God’s standard.  We don’t  deserve anything from Him, any more than Agnes deserved a birthday party and cake from my friend and Harry.

But God celebrated each of our lives when He gave us the most cherished gift He had—His Son.  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His One and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3?16).  Cherish this gift and pass it on to others.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.  1 Peter 1:8

By Vonette Bright

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