“Stop talking! Blow out the candles!!!”

Recently, about ten of us were gathered around my grandson and his birthday cake.

As my grandson had asked, the “cake” was actually a cheesecake made by my wife a/k/a Nana.

A number of candles, including a gigantic candle in the shape of a 7, burned brightly atop the “cake.”

We finished singing “Happy Birthday”. Now we wanted to eat!

Alex started talking. I couldn’t tell exactly what he was talking about. Something about blowing out the candles.

Someone was less patient—or more hungry—than the rest of us.

Exasperated, they said, “Stop talking! Blow out the candles!!!”

After several tries, Alex blew out all the candles.

I thought how much this is like us. We talk and talk about doing good. Many times people can’t even figure out exactly what we’re talking about.

I imagine God losing his patience with our talking. I imagine God telling us, in exasperation: “Stop talking about doing good! Do good!!!”

No wonder Jesus taught us not merely to talk about doing good. He commanded us to do good. (Matthew 28:18-20).

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned us that talking a good game isn’t enough. We need to play a good game. (Matthew 7:21-23; see also Matthew 21:28-31; James 1:22-25).

Jesus finished his Sermon on the Mount by urging us to put his words into practice. (Matthew 7:24-28).

Then Jesus stopped talking. He came down from the mountain. (Matthew 7:28-8:1).

Jesus put his words into action by touching a leper, and healing him. (Matthew 8:1-4).

Jesus “blew out the candles.”

The impatient cries of hungry people were heard and answered. (Exodus 3:7-10; Luke 4:14-21; Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30; John 4:34-35).

Everyone began “eating the cake”. Everyone began enjoying life to the full. (John 10:10; Matthew 28:18-20).

Let’s go and do likewise. (Luke 10:37).

Stop merely talking. Blow out your candles. Share your cake.

Do for others what you would want them to do for you. (Matthew 7:12).

When you do, everyone will enjoy their life to the full—including you!

Because God always makes exactly the type of scrumptious “birthday cake” that will taste the best to you!

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For more of my thoughts about the Sermon on the Mount, please read my blogs “Building Houses on Rock: Mission Impossible?”, “Building Houses on Rock: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”, “Building Houses on Rock: Mercy and Forgiveness”, and “Building Houses on Sand: Specks and Planks”.

For more of my thoughts about how we can never get too much of the food and drink that Jesus gives us (empowering us to bless ALL people; to challenge ALL pharaohs to let ALL people be free; and to heal ALL hurting people), please read my blog “Toto Begging for Food”.

To read my other thoughts inspired by my grandson, please read my blogs “Honoring God with Only Our Lips”, “What Makes a Hero Good?”, “Sprouting Seeds Takes Patience”, and “Video Game Strategy: Getting ‘Crucified’”.

For more of my thoughts about doing for others what you would want them to do for you, please read my blog “Doing for Others”.