David's Birthday Celebration

We have promised to celebrate all the Calvary Care Home (CCH) children's birthday in 2010. The first boy to enjoy this joyous event was David. At first, I was the one who had found out the date. Later, it was his turn to keep reminding me of his big day on 9 January. Since he was the only CCH boy born during the first month of the year, and his birthday fell on a Saturday this time, we planned to hold a small celebration for him on the day itself.

Friday, I had brought him out for dinner before we went back to my place. After using "Sunsilk" anti-dandruff shampoo in a blue bottle, he judged that the black one was still the best. That evening, I allowed him to play a computer game which my nephew had installed in my laptop recently.

The next morning, the birthday boy woke up early as usual. I said to him, "Today is an important day for you. Because you're in the secondary school now, this is your first birthday in the new stage of your life. Let's talk to God first before we seek the computer, OK?"

This obedient boy nodded. So both of us sat on the sofa. I asked him what he would like to pray for all his other CCH fellows, the staff and the volunteers. So I prayed for him first. Then we took turns to pray for each one of them and their families. After fifteen minutes, I noticed David's distracted eyes were no longer close. But I was glad that he was still willing to make an effort to bless others with his simple prayers.

In the afternoon, we returned to CCH. Some young adults led by their cell leader John T were already there playing football

while others were playing table tennis with CCH children. Since the previous weekend, they had been kindly sparing a few hours of their Saturday afternoons for the boys.

Sis Jothy had come with Albert P's car to celebrate David's birthday. She also had a burden to dissuade Mark from leaving the Care Home to go back to his mother who financially was not able to support all her children.

After David, Paul was no doubt the happiest person at CCH that day as he was reunited with his one-year-younger beloved brother. He had lent his short jeans to David to match with the blue shirt which I had given him as a birthday present. This older boy who had a taste for fashion was also wearing a nice combination of brown clothes.

At about 5.30pm, Albert gathered everybody in the living room to brief the programme we had planned for CCH for this year. The long-awaited moment came when the birthday star was finally cutting the Agape Care Centre chocolate cake after all of us had sung the birthday song for him.

The last activity of the celebration was a dinner treat for him at "Ole Sayang" restaurant. Since David was known at CCH as a child who enjoyed eating, Albert thought a meal would be the best birthday present for him. I was blessed to be invited together with my "godson" to join Albert and his "godson" Matthew.

We let David order most of the dishes. When the appetizing nyonya food arrived at the table, David suddenly announced with a serious voice, "Now I'm going to pray." I thought he had amazingly become very spiritual after our morning prayer. We solemnly bowed our heads, only to hear from him "O God, thank You for the food. Please open our stomachs..." We immediately threw our heads back and chuckled.

Four of us managed to finish the curry fish, sambal prawns, tauhu, fried vegetables, otak-otak, drink and cendol dessert thanks to David's prayer! The adults had a nice moment of "single parents' fellowship" while the children were pleased to chit chat and play between them.

Next month, there will be another celebration for two CCH birthday boys. Come and share our joy and fun!