Jesus: I care a lot about people. It brings Me such joy when people are happy and have had a chance to experience My love. You know Me, and you have My love in your heart, so you’re perfect candidates for showing My love to others.

Boy: Do You mean by doing nice things for others?

Jesus: Yes, that is one way that you can help others, but it doesn’t have to stop there. Praying for others is another special gift that you can give. It will even sometimes be a secret gift, because they probably won’t always know that you’re praying for them. But whether they know you’re praying for them or not, it will be a gift, because I will answer your prayers.

Giving hugs, doing kind deeds, showing appreciation, and being caring are all ways that you can be thinking of others and showing them My love on My birthday. And those are wonderful presents for Me!

Girl: So You mean, when I do my chores cheerfully, or I lend a helping hand to someone, doing those things are like giving birthday presents to You?

Jesus: In a way, yes, especially when you’re doing those deeds as to Me.

“When you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me” (Matthew 25:40 NLT).

Boy: What does “as unto Me” mean?

Jesus: It means you’re doing those kind deeds to another person as if I was the One in front of you who you were doing them to.

Boy: Oh, I see! I think it would be easier if it was You I was doing those things for, Jesus, and not someone else. That way it’d feel like I was really giving You a gift.

Jesus: Well, even though it’s hard to see your loving actions to others as gifts to Me, that’s really what they are. That’s how I view every kind deed that is given from your heart to another person—it’s like a personal gift to Me. And the more of those types of gifts that I receive on My birthday, the happier I am, because I just love seeing other people happy and loved.

Girl: We certainly want to try to do our best, because You’re our best Friend, Jesus, and we want to make You happy on Your birthday.

Jesus: Thank you! I’m thankful for that. But please don’t feel that you have to work so hard to make Me happy. Just knowing that you’re thinking of Me at this special time of year and are doing your best to give Me gifts from your heart brings Me immeasurable joy.

I’m grateful for each and every gift, big or small, and I can already sense a happy, fun-filled birthday up ahead. And I know it’s because you’re playing a part in making it special for Me.