In which God loves parties

We are having a big children’s party next Saturday, and a family garden party on the 19th June.

I always have a moment of panic before a party. What if….everyone forgets; no one comes; our cooking fails, there’s not enough food. What if it’s a garden party and it rains?

But our parties generally work. Somehow or the other. If it’s a children’s party, it’s not unusual for the children to spontaneously say that it was the best party they have been to. They talk about it for months afterwards. Not bad for haphazard arrangements. Though confession–I have given well over 30-40 children’s parties (we do the occasional Christmas, dead of winter, spring, summer, just because party in addition to birthday parties) and in the early years, I used to check out a stack of children’s party book and research ideas on the internet. Now, I just go with the tried and tested, and relax.

So I went through my moment of panic, and then, as usual, I prayed. And felt all would be well. Then, I wondered if I was being presumptuous. Why should God always ensure that my parties will work, and that I and everyone else would have a good time?

He will, in his mercy, ensure it because God loves parties. Jesus’ first miracle was at a wedding, when the planning was faulty and they ran out of wine!! He was accused of loving parties too much, of being a drunkard and glutton.

And heaven, he says, will be a great banquet, to which everyone is invited. Some will be too busy, too greedy, too ambitious to take the time to attend. But the waifs and strays of the world will go, and will have the most splendid time ever.

Amen and amen! Be invisibly present at our parties now, oh Lord, and never let us be too busy to banquet with you.