Lee and Larry loved their sixth birthday party. Even though they were twins, Mommy and Daddy always made sure they each had a special time. And with their birthdays coming in December, Mommy and Daddy also always made sure their birthdays were special even though Christmas was right around the corner. The party was so fun with a clown and cake and songs and wonderful presents from their friends and grandparents and uncle and aunts. It went by so fast but before they knew it, everyone had gone home and it was time to clean up and get ready for bed.
Evening family devotions were one of the most important parts of Lee and Larry’s day. Daddy read part of the story of Jesus coming at Christmas which is where he read every year during December so they would know the real reason for Christmas, to celebrate the birth of Jesus. At the end of it, Lee asked, “Daddy, did Jesus get a birthday party every year with presents and a clown too?”
Everybody laughed trying to imagine what kind of birthday party Mary and Joseph gave for Jesus when He was six. Larry wondered, “I bet he liked the same kind of toys we like.”
“Well, what does God like?” Lee added. “I mean, we like cookies and cartoons and toys, but what kind of things are fun for God?” It was a question that for a minute Mommy and Daddy had to think about.
“I know!” Said Larry. “I bet he likes angels because he has them around all the time. Maybe he and the angels play family games like we do sometimes. Maybe they play Monopoly.” This made Mommy laugh really hard.
“Or maybe he likes bowling.” Lee continued. “I heard someone say that when you hear thunder, that means that God is bowling in heaven. I bet he is really good at it.”
“I bet he is PERFECT at it!” Laughed Larry.
“Well boys,” Mommy finally said after they had come up with lots of silly ideas of what God did for fun, “What God really likes is when people love each other and take care of each other like we do in our family.” That made sense to Lee and Larry so Lee hugged Mommy and Larry hugged daddy to just make God happy.
“You know what Pastor Johansson told us on Sunday is that God really likes worship.” Daddy added.
“You mean like when we sing praise songs in Church?” Larry asked and daddy nodded. “Well I can make up a worship song.” So Larry jumped to his feet and began to make up a song to a very bad tune. “Jesus is so cool. Its fun being with God. He is the funnest God anyone could have.” Larry sang very badly so Lee had put his hands over his ears.
“Singing worship songs is good but that’s not the only way to worship.” Daddy said, maybe to make Larry stop singing. “There are lots of ways to worship.”
‘LIKE WHAT DADDY, TELL US, TELL US.” Both boys jumped up and down wanting to know how to make God happy.
“Well like Mommy said, when we love each other and love the world that Jesus died for, that’s a kind of worship. When we think about God and listen to the sermon or in Sunday School, that’s a way of worshipping because we are learning how great God is and He likes that. Or when we sit around and tell each other what the greatest things about God are. You know how much you like hearing people say how smart or cute you boys are? Well God likes when we talk together about how great he is.” Daddy answered.
“I know a game we can play that is like Daddy is talking about.” Mommy said making both boys want to know the game a lot. “It’s called ‘What is the best thing about God. And each of us has to come up with one really great thing we like about God. Who wants to go first?” Lee and Larry jumped and shouted “ME ME!” waving their hands in the air like they do at school. Finally, Mommy said, “Well Lee, since you are two minutes older than Larry, you can go first.”
“Ok,” Lee said and then he stopped and thought. “The best thing about God is ……… hmmmm……………..” He puzzled because he had so many things that were great about God but he wanted to pick the best one so he would win the game. “That he knows everything. That’s really cool. That means he can help me with my homework.” Larry concluded with a proud expression on his face.
“My turn, my turn.” Larry said eagerly wiggling to get a chance to talk. “I think the best thing about God is that he can beat up the devil because the devil is scary and mean and ugly and bad and God can beat him up so the devil can’t hurt us like he did those demon filled people in Jesus day.”
Mommy and Daddy hugged the twins because it was getting time to get to bed. “Mommy thinks the best thing about God is he gave me these two little rascals and they are the best thing in Mommy’s world.” She said cuddling and tickling both boys. That was the kind of thing mommies always say. The giggled and hugged Mommy and were almost ready to go to their bunk beds when Lee said.
“Daddy you didn’t say what the best thing about God is. You have to play too.”
“Well, I am surprised you all left the very extra best one for me.” Daddy said with a teasing smile. “It’s that he sent Jesus to die for us and give us life forever and ever and that because of that we will be a family in heaven for millions of years. That’s pretty good isn’t it?”
“Daddy wins!” The twins declared.
“This is such a fun game and we had a perfect birthday Daddy.” Larry added. “Can we play ‘What’s the best thing about God’ tomorrow too?” he begged his Mommy.
“You can play it anytime you want.” Daddy answered. “Because talking about how great God is makes him happy and its worship. Play it before you go to sleep tonight and when you wake up in the morning and God will be close to you all day long.
“WE WILL.” They both shouted and they ran to the bedroom bickering about who gets to go first.
