Boy Gives Away Possessions on His Birthday

© 2013


Johnny’s mother, Johanna, baked her son, Johnny, a double dark chocolate blackberry cake a week before his birthday.


“Happy birthday, Son,” Johanna said.


“Thanks, Mom,” Johnny said. “But why did you bake this for me a week before my birthday?”


“I love you, Johnny,” Johanna replied. “I just wanted to do something special for you. Besides, I’m going to bake another one on your birthday.”


“I didn’t want you to buy a big bunch of presents for me,” Johnny said. “You and dad are always doing things for me, so all I wanted was a cake.”


“Baking is my favorite hobby,” Johanna said. “And I think eating is your favorite hobby.”


“You know me so well,” Johnny smiled.


“I reserved the community room at the library like you asked me to,” said Johanna. “By the way, what are you planning to use the room for?”


“It’s actually pretty simple, Mom,” said Johnny. “God has blessed me with a lot of new stuff since my last birthday. “And I have a lot of things I want to give away. I even posted a notice at school, asking all the kids to come to my birthday giveaway.”


“What are you going to give away?,” Johanna asked.


“I talked to the Lord about it, and a list of things just came to me,” Johnny said.


For the next few days, Johnny stopped at the supermarket on his way home from school to pick up some empty boxes. “My birthday is coming up in a few days,” Johnny explained to Jasper, the store’s manager. “And I want to give away some of my things.”


“I’m proud of you, Johnny,” said Jasper. “I’m sure your parents must be very proud, too.”


“Mom and dad do love me a lot,” Johnny acknowledged. “They know I try to do what God wants me to do.”


Most of the school’s kids, as well as many of their parents and some of the teachers, came to Johnny’s birthday event.


“I am glad I’m obeying the Lord and giving away this stuff,” Johnny thought to himself.


Mr. Johnson, a math teacher, was the only person who seemed unhappy with Johnny’s actions. “I wouldn’t let my son, Jimmy, give away so much nice stuff,” said Mr. Johnson. “It makes no economic sense.”


“I have a couple of comments for you,” said Johanna. “First of all, Johnny isn’t your son. Secondly, any time my son wants to do something God is leading him to do, it’s quite all right with me. Besides, his room hasn’t had a good cleaning in a long time. Johnny can do this every year if he wants to!”


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