My definition of a party has changed drastically over the years !!
While I grew up with a mother who believed in celebrating every event, parties were a regular.. from my kiddie friends to extended family and some friends of the family and neighbors all hustled into the house which was decorated and catered to the crowd. I loved the food and a fancy cake which my mom outdid each year !
It was the meeting of cousins and aunts and uncles that I looked forward too and was dressed for the occasion. Some parties had events like games or even music while some were more about the meals and catching up with events in ever Tia and Tio and primos lives. Nevertheless the foodie in me loved them all !!!
As a moody teen and then a medical college student, I didnt have much time nor interest towards later years to attend these events partly cause I felt very out of place with those who claimed to have “fun” while I kept revising for my next test or exam! Of course, my friend circle in college grew and we formed our own clique of girls and guys who hung around and partied together after each successive test/ exam or just to buzz off the stress!! We made some amazing memories and ate some awesome food!!
As I joined residency I barely saw my own family, I was working or sleeping and eating when I could! My dreams were of babies heads crowning or my senior shaming me for some incomplete work! So I barely had time to meet anyone except my workmates who would party (more like eat) post a horrible shift to push past the dread!
Over the years my birthdays have been restricted to my mama and papa waking themselves at midnite to cut a cake while the rest of my friends (those who remember) text their wishes in or call the annual conversation.
Of course, I do not miss the hustle and hype of my early days on events but prefer to have a meaningful time with people I absolutely love however for obligatory reasons, attend the parties of children of my friends or the marriages of friends and family, (which I personally despise cause every “well wisher” wants to know when I will be tying the knot!) I often catch my self wishing I was not even invited saving me the guilt of avoiding them!
But the one invite I keep ignoring is the one I received since I was baptised. The invitation to follow Jesus, so often I do try at times to find a suitable outfit or the perfect gift but then get carried away with the worldly celebrations and move onto a total different event and say to myself … maybe the next time!!
Many are invited, but few are chosen
All of us are invited every day as we rise till we get into bed, we do not realise how privileged we are but we keep sending our RSVPs and make no effort to go to this party!!
The party of eternity where we have choirs of angels and saints and Mother Mary as the host, where Her son listens to us and maybe sneaks in a good word to Jesus while we wait to greet the Host! I imagine, the lucky ones are chosen for the purpose and may be called on early to help out with preparations. Some of us might even reach the venue but then not dress for the occasion or cant seem to find the invitation!!1
Today as we read the Gospel and reflect let us take each day as a party to the Lord, singing his praises for our health , thankfully eating and drinking and being the life of the party for Jesus! Let us call in our favors with Mama Mary by our daily prayers and make novenas to the saints to help us find our way to the venue and not forget to be clothed in humility and carry our love in our hearts as our gift!!
Let us say yes and not be sorry for the party rocking!!!
PRAYER!
Dear Jesus,
I am ready and ever willing to come to your kingdom, help me receive your invite and accept it wholeheartedly. Mama Mary guide me with my daily life to be fit for the final journey to the Lord and enable me to be a source of light to everyone I meet.
Amen.
