Happy Birthday, Dear Jesus

“ ‘ Glory to God in the highest, .

and on earth ,peace, goodwill to men!’ ’’

Luke 2:14 (NKJV)





Several years ago, my mother brought me a collection of recipes she purchased at a craft sale. In looking thorough the pages, I found the following:



“In all the hustle and bustle of preparing for Christmas, we may forget we are celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To help our children place the right importance on the Christmas holiday, we can explain what the birth of this special

Baby means to us. Make a birthday cake for Jesus, a “Jesus Cake.” All little children know the importance of birthdays and birthday cakes. The cake symbolizes His love for us.



Make a round cake. (Chocolate to symbolize our sins)

Cover with white frosting (His purity coves our sins)

Top with a yellow star (A guide to those searching for the new born King)

Put an angel on top (Bearer of the first glad tidings)

Place 12 (Christ our light through12 months of the year) RED (for his shed blood for us) birthday candles on top.

Encircle the cake with evergreens. (Symbolizes everlasting life.)

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In the mid 1980s I made several of these cakes one Christmas to give to people at the church we attended. One of the families who received one thought it was very meaningful. When my husband and I started going to another church almost eight years ago, the mom and dad of that family attend there. The mom worked at a craft sale one fall. She shared with me that they still used this recipe and the thoughts in their Christmas observance.

That year, I put the print out in Christmas cards of families with kids or grandkids at that new church. Last year,I shared it with the board members of the ministry with which I volunteer.