My youngest turned six on a sunny Sunday in 2010. Like a good mom, I sent out birthday party invitations to his eight friends, asking them to join us at the park for a celebration. I spent time and money (and requested my husband to postpone his plans) preparing for the big day.

We arrived at the park early, setting the table with the red, plastic cloth that tried to blow away as we laid out Gatorade bottles and cupcake containers in order to hold it down. Balloons tugged against their knot, desiring to float off into the blue skies. Sweat dripped down my face as I stuffed Toy Story 3 cups with Sour Patch Kids, Double Bubble and Silly Bands.

We sat and waited. The kids ran off to play on the tire swing and monkey bars. Two-fifteen arrived but no guests had. Two-thirty came and went, as well as several vehicles. None dropped off kids to join the party.

My heart sank with the weight of a sandbag as I tried to figure out what to say to my son when no one came to his birthday party. How do you explain to a six-year-old that people were too busy that day to celebrate his birthday?

Four Things To Do When No One Comes To Your Kid’s Birthday Party

1. Party On

Celebrate anyway. It’s your child’s special day. Accolade him or her with verbal blessings, letting them know that they are important, whether anyone else comes to their party or not. We don’t stop the celebration of their birth or big event just because the guests don’t arrive.

2. Take the Party Elsewhere

Change the plan, if need be. I know that in today’s world, many parents throw elaborate parties at indoor trampoline parks, bounce houses, roller skating rinks, bowling alleys, and so many more places. Kids always show up for those parties.

If you are throwing a party someplace like a park or your back yard, and no one comes, cancel the “party” and take your child out someplace they enjoy going. Buy them dinner at their favorite restaurant. Take them to the indoor trampoline park and let them jump for an hour. See a movie. Move the party of one to someplace fun that will take away the sting of having no guests show up.

3. Give Away the Favors

In today’s world, our kids learn quickly how great it is to receive gifts. How about encouraging them to give, even from a place of hurt? Pack up the favors you bought for the friends that were invited, and have your child deliver them to their buddies the next day in school or that Sunday at church or the next time they have a playdate. Let them know that it’s a joy to give, even when they’ve been let down. Teach them it’s better to give than to receive.

4. Invite Someone Else

Jesus threw a party once. And no one came. So He decided to go out into the world and invite anyone who would come. He ended up with several guests that weren’t on the original guest list. When his friends were too busy to celebrate life with Him, he found others – strangers – who weren’t as busy to celebrate with. (See Matthew 22:1-10)

On the day of Gideon’s party, one little guy happened to be at the playground with his dad. Gideon happily shared his birthday cupcakes and his cups of candy with his new buddy.

The boy’s father shared that they normally go to another park and had decided to come there. I realized in that moment God had intervened and blessed my son with a birthday party guest who wasn’t invited by me. He knew what was going to happen that day. And He intervened with a surprise guest.

I’m not sure if Gideon, who is turning fifteen this year, even remembers the birthday party no one showed up for. If he does, he’s never mentioned it. Thankfully, that’s only happened once in his life. Has this ever happened to your child? If so, what did you do? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!