ACHILDREN’SSTORYThisissomethingthatmighthappenifJesuscametovisit.OnedayJesuscameuptoalargegroupofchildrenwhowereplayingoutside.Hecalledouttoallofthem,“Come!Allofyou,cometomyparty!”ThechildrenbecameveryexcitedaboutgoingtoJesus’party.Thenoneoftheolderboyssaid,“Waitaminute.Justanyonecan’tgotoJesus’party.Youhavetobespecial.I’vegotabrand-newredbikeandIcangoazillionmilesanhouronit.Jesuswillletmecomebecauseofit.”SotheboyzippeduptoJesusonhisbike,slammedonthebrakesandsaid,“Isn’titagreatbike?Icangoreallyfastonitattheparty!”Jesusreplied,“Soyouwanttocometomypartytoshoweveryoneyourbike?”“Yeah,”saidtheboywithagrin.ButJesusshookhisheadandsaid,“Thatisn’twhatmypartyisabout.”Andtheboylookedsadandslowlywentaway.Whenhegotbacktothegroupofkids,anotherboy,whowasyounger,said,“Well,Iknowhowhe’llletMEgotohisparty.HewentuptoJesusandpromptlystoodupsidedownonhisheadandsaid“SeewhatIcando?I’vepracticedandpracticed!”Jesuslookedattheupsidedownboyandsaid,“Youwanttocometomypartytoshowhowstrongandcleveryouare?”“Yes!”saidtheboy.“Well,”saidJesus,“thatisn’twhatmypartyisabout.”Andtheboyfloppedoverrightsideupandwentaway.AlittlegirlwithaprettynewdressandcurlyhairwentuptoJesusnext.Sheturnedaroundandaroundsohecouldseeherskirtwhirlaroundandthenstopped,gavehercurlsashakesotheywouldlookjustrightandsmiledupatJesus.Jesusaskedher,“Whydoyouwanttocometomyparty?”“ToshoweveryonehowprettyIamtoday.Mydressisnew,isn’titnice?”“Yes,”saidJesus,“butthatisn’tagoodreasontocometomyparty.”“What!”sheexclaimed.Sheturnedaroundandstompedoff,madatJesus.Asshereturnedtothegroup,aboysaidtoher,“Ofcourseyoucan’tgojustbecauseyouwanttobepretty!Jesusdoesn’tcareabouthowsomeonelooks.Watch.I’llshowyouwhatisimportanttohim.”AndtheboywentmarchinguptoJesusandstartedsayingallthethingshehadmemorizedfromtheBible.Itwasalonglist,butwhenhestoppedforabreath,Jesussaidtohim,“Youwanttocometomypartytoshoweveryonehowsmartyouare?”“Yes,”saidtheboy,surethatJesuswaspleasedheknewsomuchoftheBible.“Well,”saidJesus,“it’sagoodthingtoknowthingsfromtheBible,butmypartyisn’tforshowingeveryonehowsmartyouare.”Andtheboyturnedaround,feelingveryconfused.Whenhereturnedtothegroupofchildren,theyweregettingveryworriedabouthowanyonewouldevergetintothatparty.Havingfancystuff,beingstrongandclever,beingpretty,beingsmart-surelythosethingswouldbeimportanttoJesusliketheyweretothem.Thena10-year-oldgirlsteppedforward,saying,“IKNOWwhatJesuswants.Justwatchme!”ShewentuptoJesusandstartedtellinghimallthewaysshewasverygoodandhowsheALWAYSdideverythingherparentsaskedhertoRIGHTAWAY.Jesusansweredwhenshewasdone,“Itisgoodtodowhatyourparentsask,butmypartyisn’taplaceforpeopletoshowothershowgoodtheyare.”Shelookedathim,gotareallymadlookonherfaceandstompedaway.Noneoftheotherchildrencouldthinkofanythingelsethatwouldwork.ButJesuswalkedupthegroup,toalittle4-year-oldgirlinanoldbrowndress.Herhairwasstraightandnotreallycombedverywell.Shewassitting,lookingattheground,whenhesaidgentlytoher“Don’tyouwanttocometomyparty,LittleOne?”“O,yes,”sheanswered.“Ilovebeingwithyou,Jesus.ButI’mnotprettyorstrongorclever.Idon’thaveanythingnewandmymommydoesn’thaveenoughmoneytobuymeaprettydress.AndI’mnotsmart--Idon’tevenknowhowtoreadyet!AndyesterdaywhileIwasplaying,Ibrokeoneofmommy’sprettyplates,andsheyelledatme.SoI’mnotgoodatall.”Andshestartedtocry.Jesustookherhand,andgentlysaid,“Come,LittleOne.Cometomyparty.”
