Girl shares birthday during Lent and COVID-19
Misheli Nethanya marked her 9th birthday by helping poor children as a gift. “I actually want to say to all my friends and to all Christian children who are my age that we, young ones, can make our Jesus happy.”
Colombo (Asia News) – Misheli Nethanya celebrated her 9th birthday last Sunday in a meaningful way by inviting Catholic friends of her age to practise the virtue of sharing with children who may not be able to happily enjoy life. In doing so, she marked her anniversary in a very simple way but one full of spiritual happiness.
“This Lent and the COVID-19 epidemic made me avoid excessive celebrations for my birthday,” Misheli told AsiaNews. “We did a lot of things on this day in previous years. We held small parties, etc. But according to my Ammi (mother) I kept my birthday low profile, giving priority to important matters.”
“Early on Sunday morning I attended Mass with my Ammi and Nanga (her little sister). At Mass, I prayed to God for me, my family members, and also my school teachers. I offered a dozen exercise books to our parish priest to give to a child or children who cannot buy them, as a gift from me on my birthday.”
“I actually want to say to all my friends and to all Christian children who are my age that we, young ones, can make our Jesus happy.”
Misheli Nethanya is a member of The Little Friends of Jesus in Wewala Parish and is enrolled in Grade 4 at the School of the Convent of the Holy Family in Colombo-Bambalapitiya. She told AsiaNews how she celebrated her birthday.
“Since we are now in the period of Lent I wanted a low key birthday because, my Ammi (mother) explained to me well how we should live the period of Lent in a meaningful way.”
“So, back from Mass I cut the milk rice instead of a birthday cake. The milk rice was attractively arranged with very small beautiful flowers from my grandmother's garden. It was really cute and I was really happy to cut it as I blew on a nice pink candle singing ‘Happy birthday Misheli, Doni”. Doni is a short form for daughter.
“As my Ammi and my grandmother taught me, milk rice is a very rich and blessed food prepared with coconut milk or fresh milk and rice. This milk rice is used as a blessing for every good deed or wonderful occasion.”
After cutting the milk rice Misheli received gifts in cash. “I told my parents when they asked me what I wanted as gifts for my birthday this year, that I'd like to help some kids. So, my Ammi and others gave me cash so I could help.”
“My Thaththi (father) said he would help a poor little girl on my behalf this week. I am glad that my grandmother told me that she will introduce me to two children from our parish who lost their fathers in an accident and in the recent COVID-19 epidemic.
“Tomorrow or the day after, I'm going to visit them and give them my cash gifts to buy everything they need for school.”
Her Ammi and her teacher, Mrs. Sugandhi, also encouraged her to do good things. “Even if it's a small thing, I like to do it to make our Jesus, who loves us so much, happy,” Misheli explained.
“There is nothing sad about not having a birthday cake or a birthday party. I'm really, really happy with how I spent my birthday, full of meaning and joy. For this, I thank my Ammi and everyone at home.”
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