His birthday was only two days before Christmas and the entire family was there to celebrate with him.

He is a devout Aggie! No one is prouder than being a graduate of Texas A&M than he is. I wouldn't be surprised if he actually bleeds maroon blood instead of red when he is cut. So it's no wonder, they decided to give him an Aggie Birthday Party, Aggie cake and all. He would be so surprised when he saw the cake!

And he was! I would loved to have seen his face when he saw that cake with all those candles lighting it. Especially, when he got close enough to read the words Texas Longhorns written on a background of burnt orange icing! He was surprised alright. Just not in a 'good' way.

I'm told he refused to eat any of the cake at first but soon gave in to family pressure. But knowing him, I'm guessing he probably ate it with his eyes closed. No one is quite sure how he ended up with a Longhorn cake. Of course, he was certain his wife had planned it. She insists she did not!

On the way to pick up the cake she confessed to her daughter that she almost ordered him a Longhorn cake but she couldn't be that mean to him and decided NOT to do it. Imagine her surprise when they got into their car and took a peek at the cake. Still she insists, "I didn't do it! I couldn't be that mean!" And I believe her... but I'm not so sure he does. However, if the truth be known, everyone got a good laugh out of it including him. And you can be sure this was a birthday he will NEVER forget.

I think that sometimes it's good to remember bad things. What??? Okay, I have probably thrown you completely with that statement so let me clarify.

I'm reminded of the woman who broke the expensive jar of perfume on Jesus' feet and then began wiping His feet with her hair. If you remember the story, some of the disciples were very upset with her saying she had wasted because of the great expense of the perfume and jar which good have been used in other ways. But Jesus wasn't upset at all. If fact he even took time to explain to the disciples just why she had done such a seemingly silly thing.

In Luke 7:47 Jesus said, 'I tell you, her sins - and they are many - have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love."

Wow! That makes all the sense in the world. When you remember all the things that make you unworthy to be a child of God and then realize you have been forgiven completely for everything, why wouldn't you want to do all you could to show Him how much you love Him? The problem is that many of us forget from time to time just how much He has done for us.

After reading that scripture I have to say, 'Lord, remind us where we were when you found us and forgave our sins. Help us realize where we might have been had it not been for Your great mercy and grace. Lord help us remember.'

Yes, remembering those bad things in the Light of God's forgiveness is indeed a very 'good thing'.

Oh, by the way, the story of the Aggie who received the Longhorn cake is probably only half of the story. For somewhere out there, is a devout Longhorn who received a cake with the words Texas A&M written on a background of Maroon icing.

You gotta love it!