I am not used to birthday parties, at least not as the celebrant. The only evidence that I have of such is a childhood picture of mine in front of a table with cake, drinks and surrounded by friends of similar age in our Cameroon Road, Aba, house. I guess I was seven then, and my parents thought it significant, having survived that far! Other birth day parties where I was closely involved, were those of my children; usually the first year, and then as they mark the teenage age.
Of course, when I made a reference to February as my birth month in an earlier blog post, I was not expecting a party. There was no special age to mark as such, but certainly every reason to show gratitude to God who not only sustains me, but has called me into His service. The other consideration was that we were on schedule to deliver a turnkey project to a major client. But my wife had other plans….
Without telling me, she had managed to scroll my phone book and taken the numbers of my close friends known to her, added some of her own and family, plotted and staged a surprise party with me as the chief celebrant! To qualify for a surprise, all the ingredients had to be right. I was completely kept in the dark as to the goings on while she engaged my attention with other issues. The party was even brought forward to Saturday 23, before my birthday on Monday 25, February. The reason according to her was to ensure all her invitees turned up, since it was a more suitable day.
While she thought everything was under control, something happened on the D - day that temporarily put the plans out of course. It was convenient for me to leave the house that morning after the usual Lagos State imposed environmental seat-in till 10 a.m. each last Saturday of the month. She knew I was going for lectures at the bible school and should be back about 4 p.m. That was enough time to put together all the party logistics, including decorations, arrival of food, drinks, and of course her invited guests. And sure, all these were present well before 4p.m.
The surprise party could not start in the true sense of the term until the celebrant arrives; and by 4.30 p.m. going on to 5 p.m. I was not anywhere in sight. My best friend that had been detailed to ensure I returned home directly was not much help because he couldn’t drag me out of class and the lectures took longer. Finally as I emerged and met him, an emergency call over the health of my wife, which later turned out to be contrived, came through my phone. My sister-in-law was the one used for this ploy to get me home at all cost! Expectedly every manner of emotions and thoughts flushed through my mind and I quickly alerted my friend that we should hurry home. Driving through traffic with him in tow was like a movie chase scene. I learnt later that he called home and was wondering what they told me that caused the frenzy!
You can imagine the joy and relief when I burst into the sitting room ( and learnt that the scare was just a ruse to get me home), to the warm embrace of family, friends, and a world class surprise birthday party by all standards, replete with drinks, food, songs, music, speeches. Was I surprised? Yes. Was I pleased? Yes. Except of course, the false 911 call! My wife’s explanation that only such a call will take me away from the things of God did not offer much relief.
Incidentally, the following Saturday, my mentee and protégé in one of the banks I worked in, got a taste of that ‘medicine’. He turned 40, and his wife of over a decade, decided to celebrate him with a surprise party. I got the invitation through a text message and she called a few days later to confirm my attendance. I assured her I would be there, (both to see his reaction and for the close relationship our families have developed over the years).
I will say his own party had much more drama. For one, the venue was at an upscale event centre. Secondly, he had cause to be at his office that same day, and got home well over three hours after the time the party was scheduled to start! While guests have been seated and everything ready, the challenge for the wife was how to convince him to leave home and head for a dinner (the venue), located over five kilometres away. Reckon, of course, that he was not privy to the arrangements. Being of a focused, conservative hue, he would rather take a nap and let the day go by. It took all the wife’s marketing skills, including whipping up sentiments that her parents who flew in from their base in the United Kingdom, will be there. At the end of day, she had her way, her husband had his surprise, shock and appreciation, and we the invited guests had a great party. Thank God for virtuous wives….!
Friends, I have a word for you: ‘He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord’ Proverbs 18:22 (NIV). May that be your testimony as it is indeed mine!
Every good and perfect gift comes from God. To find out more about God and how you can have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, visit any Bible believing church near you, or: CHAPEL OF DESTINY RESTORATION CHURCH, 2 Akinlabi Lane, off Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, by Round About Bus Stop, Ikeja. Lagos. I invite you to join us tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. Interestingly, I will be preaching a message, “Wanted: Men of Valor and Women of Virtue”
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