Hebrews 13:16 New Life Version (NLV)

16 Remember to do good and help each other. Gifts like this please God.

I received a call the other day from a lady who is planning a birthday party for her grandmother. Her grandmother is turning 80! She spoke of all the people her grandmother had helped, feed, and given a place to sleep when they needed it. She said that her grandmother would cook big Sunday dinners and anybody who wanted to come would be welcome to do so.

I asked her who was helping her with this grand celebration. She said only herself and a younger cousin.

Hmmmm, but you said your grandmother had “helped” tons of people. Are they not willing to help? After some discussion, the answer was no.

We often here about “giving back” and “paying it forward” and we readily do so without much thought or hesitation. These people are often “strangers” to us. People we don’t really know, or have a desire to know.

But what about Grandma’s party? All of us have a “grandma” that has helped us along in life. They may be male, female, friend, family, teacher, mentor, young, old or just someone who poured a blessing into your life.

Your party may not be a grand occasions with cake and balloons. Your party may only be a 15 minute visit or a 5 minute phone call. However, to the recipient it will FEEL like a celebration.

I don’t know if I will live to be 80 or if anyone will want to throw me a party celebrating my life. But I do want to continue to be a giver, no matter if they remember that I gave or not.