Sunflower Faith

It’s birthday season here at the Sunflower Faith household and already we are fighting the “Keeping up with the Joneses” feeling that is drifting around.

As my throat constrict from panic, my mind drift over to a t.v. show that was on one of the cable stations that was about how much and how far parents would go to throw a birthday party, not for a sweet-sixteen, but for a toddler.

Yes, a toddler.

Recently a celebrity was said to have spent “$100,000″ for a 2nd birthday party and all I could think was, “Wow, that would almost pay off a house these days”.

On Cnn.com (see Crazy Birthday parties we can only dream about here) stated that some parents pay anything from $500.00 to upwards $25,000 and more for a birthday party for a child under 10 and all I can think is, “Is it too late to be adopted?”.

In a time when we are dealing with a recession and high gas prices, it amazed me to hear how much parents are still spending for birthday parties and follow it with,”Oh it’s not like they remember it but they are my child and….I just can’t believe how much I just spent.”

As I reflected on what I was going to do for my own child’s birthday party ( aside from a box of cake mix, frosting and a candle;remember those days when that was enough?), Prov 23:4-5 (NIV) came to mind,” Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

I love listening to Dave Ramsey and I could imagine if we were to ask his advice regarding birthday parties, after turning red, steam coming out of his ears, he would probably ask wouldn’t it be easier for us to just spread frosting on the cash instead and eat it, after all, same thing.

I find it ironic of people who take his courses, only to see them spend enormous amount of money for a child’s birthday party but then later have “buyer’s remorse” and regret they did that.Rather than remember the birthday party itself, they remember the dollar digits and the after effects.

Photos are usually a better souvenir than the bill statement.

Not only in the light of the recession, but just in light of our Heavenly Father, He calls on us to remember that we have two choices since,Luke 16:13 (NIV) “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

I watch as good people I know, find themselves in debt, tension and depression as they struggle to keep up with the Joneses and always searching for that pot of gold that seemed to allude them; Susceptible to get rich schemes and a fast way to make a dollar, my heart would go to them in friendship but in prayer as well as I see them wander from the Lord and keep focus more on trying to keep up with the world instead and peppering their words with “When I have this I will…”,”When this happens, I will.”

Someday…someday but how about today?

What if that someday doesn’t come.

Phil 4:11-13 (Phi) …For I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances may be. I know now how to live when things are difficult and I know how to live when things are prosperous. In general and in particular I have learned the secret of eating well or going hungry–of facing either plenty or poverty. I am ready for anything through the strength of the One who lives within me.

I read an amazing story about how the founders of our nation gave up everything, security, their fortunes and the risk of their lives to invest in the belief they had in the liberty and establishment of their country; Some in the end, were penniless but if asked to do it all over, they would.

For them, it wasn’t about the money, it was about the principle and the faith they had in Jesus Christ. That was the reward there.

For us, we can do that with how we treat the life that our Heavenly Father has entrusted us with our care and take care we don’t get so caught up in the materialism of the world that we forget where to put our investment in and instead become like the rich fool in Luke 12:16-21.

And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ‘

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

“This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Suddenly just planning a simple birthday party with just family and very close friends didn’t sound to bad after all; True we wouldn’t have the wildlife handler that was suggested but that means one less chance of appearing on the late night news or front page papers in case something went wrong; Maybe that means I am least likely to get that surprise phone call to appear on t.v. about my child’s extravagant birthday party but it’s one less thing to stress about the morning of the birthday and one more reason to have more time to enjoy the moment. I much rather have that memory than the memory of how we went into debt by the time the 5th birthday party came around due to the circus that was rented for the 4th.

There are the memories that money can’t buy and it’s a moment rich in family, friends and the blessing that our Heavenly Father blessed our family with.That’s a richness that I will take over anything any day…unless it’s chocolate….or maybe shoes….or purses..or shoes and purses….Oh boy, where did we bury those credit cards again??

Drop by and participate with us at, In Other Words Tuesday. This week, Amy is hosting “In ‘Other’ Words” at her site, In Pursuit of Proverbs 31.