by Staff Writer Stephany Mendia

Christmas? Well it’s the most wonderful time of the year! There are chestnuts for roasting, marshmallows for toasting and Jesus’s birthday to celebrate!

I read the most interesting short story the other day, that you have probably all heard of — Jesus’s birthday being forgotten about due to Santa. If you haven’t read it, here’s the idea:

Jesus: Santa?
Santa: Yes?
Jesus: I’m sad.
Santa: Why are you sad? It’s Christmas right? It’s your birthday!
Jesus: Yeah. That’s the point
Santa: Why?
Jesus: Because whenever it’s Christmas, the kids only wait for you and not me! They only celebrate Christmas because of you! Why Santa, why not Jesus? Dec. 25 is for Jesus not for Santa.

When I read this, I started to think about the day I turned 13. Probably the worst birthday ever, and to top it all off, one of my closest guy friends never wished me happy birthday. And to this day I don’t even think he realizes that he never even spoke to me on the day I officially became a teenager. I’ve gotten over it, no doubt, but that story reminded me so much of my own… How long has it been since I wished Jesus a happy birthday?

I have nothing against Santa. I am all for snowmen, and hot chocolate, and shopping, but in the mix of it all, it’s so easy to forget about the manger and the fact that Jesus never got a birthday cake.

If your best friend never wished you happy birthday, it would hurt you more than anything right? Well, Jesus humbled himself and put on the robe of a citizen of, what was at that time, one of the scummiest cities of all. He went from holdling the earth to holding Mary’s hand.

So I think this Christmas here’s what we should all do: wake up, look at our tree, and wish Jesus the happiest of birthdays, thank Him for being the most wonderful friend of all, and give Him the only gift He ever asked for — our lives.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Stephany (Steph) Mendia accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at age ten and has been living for Him ever since! She’s a youth worker in her church’s children’s ministry, loves kids, and has the most amazing friends and family. She attends a public high school, which has its challenges, but she loves it. She’s constantly laughing, smiling, writing, singing, and talking. You can catch up with her at her blog, Hey Might as Well.