The sweetest surprise: Ensuring kids have birthday cakes on their birthday
Imagine celebrating your birthday without a cake. For many kids at the Arkansas Dream Center, this is what their birthdays have looked like- no cake, no party. For families living in poverty, hosting a birthday party and buying a cake is often an extra expense in their budget. Poverty looks like making decisions. It is deciding between making your child happy or providing them with proper living conditions. At Every Arkansan, we never want this to be a decision parents have to make.
To a child, a birthday cake represents that they matter, it shows that they are worthy to be celebrated. We honor and acknowledge the special gifting and talents God has given to His people that make them unique. A child deserves to be celebrated on their birthday.
For CJ, receiving a birthday cake at the Arkansas Dream Center made his day even more special. It was an unexpected and memorable gift.
“When I received my basketball cake, I was so happy.” CJ said. “My cake was a surprise to me because it was in the shape of a basketball and it was my favorite flavors- chocolate and vanilla. I was not expecting a Space Jam cake!”
CJ’s cake showed that someone cared about him. His cake was specially picked out with him in mind. It was baked with all his favorite flavors and had his favorite characters.
A birthday cake is much more than the traditional celebratory dessert. It shows that someone thought of you.
In Psalm 139:14, King David reminds God’s people how He created them. God created people distinctively and intricately.
The scripture says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
God gives each of His people different personalities, characteristics and qualities that were chosen just for that person. A birthday celebrates God’s provision in His creation. A child deserves to know that this is how God created and views them.
