Devotional for December 23

Now that it is Advent, we will look forward to the bustle of decorating the house, choosing and cutting down our live tree, putting on the decorations that signify our many years of Christmases together and apart, and making the special “Jesus’s Cake.” The “Jesus Cake” started out many years ago as a tradition that my Aunt used to do when we all got together for Christmas dinner. She would bake an all-white cake with white frosting and decorations with all those silver balls positioned just so (now they are not recommended to eat, but back then, we loved them even though they could break your teeth). The cake would have a solitary white candle and we would all sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus. We have continued that tradition, and I make the white cake with white frosting sans fancy decorations (my Aunt was a professional cake decorator and I am not that by any means). However, the tradition continues and each year I am asked if I made the “Jesus Cake.” Two special years come to mind; one where I have no white candles except a 2-inch diameter pillar candle which when on the cake; and the other where I tried a “different recipe” for the cake and upon cutting into the cake at Christmas dinner discovered it was rather underdone, never-the-less everyone was “required” to have a bite (I am reminded of the underdone cake every year even though I have made over 30 perfectly done cakes)! However, with all the bustle of “Commercial Christmas,” it is a nice thing to take a moment, sing “Happy Birthday,” and reflect on Our Savior and take a bit of His birthday cake—no matter the doneness! 

This year I will make the “Jesus Cake” and we will sing “Happy Birthday” together during our 2020 Zoom Christmas.                                               

—Katherine Richardson