A birthday to remember
Friends often gather together to celebrate birthdays … one birthday at a time. Wendy, Ann and I have been faithful to this tradition, particularly following our move from Townsville to Brisbane. These events have grown to be very special occasions for the three of us. We have been on trips to Coochie Mudlo, a favourite destination, a momentous adventure over to Nth Stradbroke Island to watch the whales and visits to various coffee shops around Brisbane. The most recent was Wendy’s birthday at the Pelican Cafe at Redland Bay.
There was, however, one birthday party that has stood apart from all the rest and this is the story. I wrote this story for Wendy for her birthday as I wanted us all to have a record of this rather amazing event.
How Charlie Mackesy turned up at Ann’s birthday party.
It was Ann’s birthday…again!
Ann had found a nursery on the Northside of Brisbane that she decided would be great for her birthday outing. A quick coffee there, then back to her house only 10 minutes away for lunch. Snap! Great idea.
Wendy and I, being Southsiders, met at our usual Scrub Rd, Carindale rendezvous. Wendy jumped in my car and we headed off with our trusty GPS as a guide to … Ann’s Nursery.
From the moment we pulled into the car park the spirit of Ann’s birthday was upon us 😊 Hahahaha. Parking the ecofriendly Hyundai Prius under the shade of a magnificent huge, evergreen tree made us feel safe and secure. Stepping out of the car we found ourselves looking every which way, distracted by the variety of trees, plants and garden art surrounding us. We slowly made our way to the majestic steps heralding the welcoming pillars at the entry to the nursery. Four steps in and our hearts were overflowing with delight. There were just so many desirable pieces of garden art and paraphernalia, all so enticing for the ‘little or big’ spender. The towering, tall timbers and rustic rafters supporting the roof were calling to us for recognition and admiration. We saw and we admired.
It wasn't long before the three of us exchanged hugs and were seated around a small table in the heart of the nursery. It really was a man-made Garden of Eden, filled with numerous pot plants, trees, hanging baskets and creepers.
We started to chatter, punctuated with loads of laughter, as we always do on these festive occasions…. come to think of it…on any occasion! At one point, Wendy began to tell us about this most moving story she had watched on a video at a Healing Room. Here we go …
Wendy leaned forward. We leaned in too. Wendy recounted there was an extremely sick man who was in hospital. Every day he observed a chaplain who came through the wards visiting various patients. As sick as this guy was, he still had enough energy to make a derogative comment under his breath and give the chaplain the finger as he walked past his bed. This happened on several occasions.
One day, however, he decided to call the hospital chaplain over. He asked him why he did what he did. The chaplain sat next to the man and told him about how, at a low point in his life, he’d had a life changing encounter with Jesus. Now, all he wanted to do was share this experience with others. The chaplain pulled up another chair next to the bed and he said to the man, “If Jesus was sitting in that chair, what would you say to him?”
“Well, I would tell him I’ve stuffed up my life.”
“Yes, and what else would you say?”
“I am sorry.”
“I think he would like that…And what else….?”
They chatted on in this manner a little longer and then the chaplain left. He wasn’t able to return for a week or so and when he did, he noticed the bed was made and no one was in it. He asked the nurse what happened to the gentleman who had been there. She said he passed away. The chaplain’s heart dropped. He felt so sad he had not been able to talk more to the man about Jesus and the hope of salvation. Forlornly, he turned to walk away and just then the nurse called out to him.
“It was strange you know. When we found him, he was leaning out of his bed with his arms wrapped around the chair. He was just lying there.”
At that point in the story, I took a deep gasp of air and my eyes started to well up with tears. Ann too was touched and wanted Wendy to send her the link to the story so she could listen to it again.
The chatter continued and before long we headed back to Ann's place where the ceremonial birthday present opening was to take place. When we got there, we sat in Ann’s comfy lounge room with a fire blazing on her TV screen. It was very warm😊 I can’t remember what Wendy gave Ann. Actually, I think it was a green pillow for her bed. It was! Ann loved it.
When Ann opened my gift, there was another dramatic pause. The book I gave her was, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. Here we go with all the coincidences.
Ann’s friend Bob had already shown Ann this book. He also loved, loved, loved it. Ann had brought two copies and had been thinking of giving her son Richard a copy. I was also intent on sending my son Jacob a copy. (Matchy, matchy😊). Ann and I went into raptures about the beauty of this book. I told Wendy when she was a grandmother, I would get her a copy. She was adamant that I shouldn’t do that!! No way! Neither Ann nor I could convince Wendy otherwise. I asked, “Wen, what books will you read to your grandchildren?” Counting books of course! (Wendy is an accountant - everything must add up!)
Lunch was just lovely around Ann’s table, surrounded by Robert Burton’s art, flowers and her beautiful timber furniture. But, it didn’t end there. It only gets better. We all went our various way and later that evening Wendy shared the link with us for the story she had shared earlier in the day. It was told by Charlie Mackesy, the Christian author of … wait for it …. drum roll …. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse! There was a frenzy of exchanges on our chat line and a lot of laughing.
We have probably shared around 8 years of birthdays together here in Brisbane, but Ann’s 60 something’th birthday will be enshrined in our memories forever.
Retold by Trish