Happy Birthday!

MacGillicuddy kept jumping up and down, up and down. That was the way he always acted when he was very excited! It was only six days until MacGillicuddy’s birthday! He was so excited, because he was going to have a GREAT birthday party. He had never had a birthday party before. He had invited his best friend, Mayhem, and Mean Monster Mergatroyd, too. He had invited other monster friends, as well as several relatives.

It was going to be a great party! There would be games to play, presents to give and food to eat. Best of all of these would be the food. His mother was making dozens of apple pies for the party. MacGillicuddy was going to have the best birthday pie anyone ever saw!

Every day, MacGillicuddy would ask his mother or father how many more days until his birthday. He knew how many days it was, he just wanted to remind them that it was almost his birthday, just in case they forgot! Every day, MacGillicuddy would remind his friends, Mayhem and Mean Monster Mergatroyd that his birthday was coming up. He didn’t want them to forget either!

This was a very special birthday for MacGillicuddy. Monsters live a very long time! Actually, MacGillicuddy was going to be 168 years old on his birthday. Since they get so old, monsters only celebrate their birthday every 21 years. So even though MacGillicuddy seems old to people, really he is a very young monster. This would be his eighth monster birthday. And on your eighth birthday, something very special happened.

Not only would your friends come and help you celebrate, but the Most Ancient Monster of the Forest would come, and give you a special gift. His parents never told him just what that special gift was, but he was looking forward to it.

The day before his birthday, he was trying to find out what the Most Ancient Monster of the Forest was going to give him. He asked Mayhem, but Mayhem didn’t know.

"I haven’t had my eighth birthday party yet, MacGillicuddy!" said Mayhem. "No one will tell me either. I guess it must be awfully important, because no one ever knows until they actually get the gift."

MacGillicuddy asked Mean Monster Mergatroyd too, but he just wouldn’t say. "I can’t really tell you, MacGillicuddy. It’s supposed to be a secret. Besides, everyone gets something different, even though everybody gets the same thing. It is something that you really need, but you might not like it when you first get it."

MacGillicuddy told his father what Mean Monster Mergatroyd had said. "That doesn’t make sense!" said MacGillicuddy. "How can you get the same thing if it’s different? And why wouldn’t you like something that you needed?"

"I think that Mean Monster Mergatroyd was exactly right, Mac." said his father. "This is a very important gift, the most important gift any monster can ever give you. But we don’t ever tell anyone about it before the Most Ancient Monster of the Forest gives it to you. You’ll understand what Mean Monster Mergatroyd was saying better after you receive your gift."

"Now, in the meantime, your Momster needs some help in the kitchen. She still has 79 more pies to make before morning. I think you and I better get in there and peel some apples if you want to have enough pies for your party!"

Mr. Monster, Mrs. Monster and MacGillicuddy all worked hard that evening, making apple pies. Even though it was hard work, MacGillicuddy enjoyed it, because every once in a while he would eat an apple while he was peeling, and he loved apples!

When they were done, Mrs. Monster said, "Thank you for your help, MacGillicuddy. I don’t think your father and I could have finished on time if you hadn’t pitched in! Now, off to bed with you, so you can get plenty of sleep before your birthday!"

The next morning MacGillicuddy woke up early, even though he had worked late the night before. Who could sleep late on his eighth birthday?

Already there were people knocking on the door to the Monster home. Friends and relatives were coming from far and near. Aunt Matilda was there, and Cousin Esmerelda. Uncle Malicious was there with Aunt Malcontent. More and more monsters arrived, and there wasn’t room under the Apple Tree for everyone.

"Come on, Come on! Let’s go outside," Mr. Monster laughed. There’s not enough room for a monster to turn around in here!"

When MacGillicuddy went outside, there were even more monsters. They all came to celebrate MacGillicuddy’s birthday! Everyone started by giving a present to MacGillicuddy. They got in a big circle with MacGillicuddy in the middle. Then one by one, each monster brought a present to MacGillicuddy, and then, MacGillicuddy gave them a present. On one side of MacGillicuddy was a large pile of presents that he gave to everyone, and on the other side was the pile of presents that his family and friends gave to him.

Mrs. Monster watched MacGillicuddy very closely. She was a little disappointed. Every time MacGillicuddy gave a present, the monster who got the present said, "Thank you." But MacGillicuddy never said "Thank you" for the presents that he got. She knew that he was excited, but still, he should have better manners than that.

After all the presents were given out, then it was time for monster games. They played Monster Mountain Ball for a long time. MacGillicuddy loved Monster Mountain Ball. He wasn’t very good at hitting the ball, but he was very good at running up the mountain. So he chose Mean Monster Mergatroyd as his teammate because Mean Monster Mergatroyd was very good at hitting the ball.

The score was very close, especially between MacGillicuddy’s team and another team, Mayhem and MacGillicuddy’s father. Finally Mean Monster Mergatroyd and MacGillicuddy won!

"Hey, MacGillicuddy! Thanks! I’ve never won at Monster Mountain Ball before because I couldn’t run well enough. That was fun!"

"Sure, Mean Monster Mergatroyd! I had fun too!" answered MacGillicuddy. But he didn’t thank Mean Monster Mergatroyd, even though MacGillicuddy had never won a game either.

Finally, it was time for the apple pie! This was MacGillicuddy’s most favorite food. Everyone lined up for the apple pies, but because there were so many, it didn’t take long for everyone to get theirs. Since it was MacGillicuddy’s birthday, he got his pie last of all. He waited in line with Mayhem and Mean Monster Mergatroyd and laughed and joked and talked as they waited.

Finally Mayhem reached the pie table. Mrs. Monster gave him a pie, and he said, "Thank you Mrs. Monster! This looks great!"

Mean Monster Mergatroyd asked, "I am very big, may I please have two pies?"

"Of course," laughed Mrs. Monster, "Here you are!"

"Thank you very much." said Mean Monster Mergatroyd.

"Hi Momster! It’s finally my turn! Where’s my pie?"

"Here you are, Mac. I hope you enjoy it." his mother answered.

As they were eating their pie, everyone opened their presents. Monster after monster called out to MacGillicuddy and thanked him for the presents that he gave them. But he was so busy opening presents, he forgot to say thank you to anyone else.

Finally came the end of the party. Through the trees came the Most Ancient Monster of the Forest. She walked quietly through all the other monsters, and came up to MacGillicuddy. He stood up, but he was a little afraid as she took his paw and walked him into the forest.

"This is my present to you. I give it to every monster on their eighth birthday. I give the same present, but it is always different. Today I give you a name. It is a name to remind you of who you should be. I give everyone a name, but everyone gets a different name."

"The name I give you is Gratus. It is an ancient name. It means thankful. You are not yet thankful enough. You have received much today, and have not given thanks to anyone, so I give you thanks by naming you Gratus. Remember, we must always give thanks, both to each other, and to God."

"And now, Happy Birthday, MacGillicuddy Gratus Monster. May God bless you today and everyday."

As the Most Ancient Monster of the Forest turned to leave, MacGillicuddy spoke up. "Um, Most Ancient Monster?"

"Yes?" she asked.

"Th-Thank you for your gift." said MacGillicuddy.

The Most Ancient Monster of the Forest smiled. "You are welcome, MacGillicuddy. Now you may return to your family and friends."

Both Mr. and Mrs. Monster tucked MacGillicuddy in that night. "What were you saying to everyone before they left MacGillicuddy?" asked his mother.

"The same thing I want to say to you and Pops. Thank you!"

MEMORY VERSE Ephesians 5:20 Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20 MacGillicuddy learned that we should always be thankful, and that we should show that by saying thank you, to those around us, and to God. Memorize this verse to help you to remember to give thanks to God.