Parents always wonder what their kids will come up with next.
Most 5-year-olds want superhero parties or princess themes for their big day.
But this little boy’s birthday party choice left everyone speechless – and brought grown men to tears.
Cross Flagg knows exactly what he wants
Jaclyn Flagg was ready to help her son Cross plan his 5th birthday party when he dropped a bombshell that stopped her cold.
The mom had been working with Cross for weeks to come up with the perfect celebration.
"I had given him some theme ideas a few weeks prior to his birthday. Like science-themed — I was so excited to attempt a volcano cake with dry ice — or arts and crafts," Flagg told PEOPLE.¹
Cross wasn’t interested in the usual options.
His little wheels were turning, and Flagg could tell he had something brewing in that 5-year-old mind of his.
What came next left both parents stunned.
"One night after my husband and I put him to bed, we did our normal night routine, which included reading his Kids Bible and prayers. He ran out of his room and said, ‘I know what I want for my birthday party!’ He says, ‘I want a Jesus theme,’" Flagg explained.²
The parents looked at each other with that universal parent expression: "Um, is that allowed?"
When Google comes up empty-handed
Most parents can find party supplies for just about any theme imaginable these days.
Pirates, unicorns, dinosaurs – Amazon’s got you covered.
But when Flagg searched for "Jesus-themed birthday party," she hit a wall.
"I quickly Googled ‘Jesus-themed birthday party’ only to come up empty-handed," she said.³
That’s when this smart mom made the perfect call – she let Cross take the lead on his own party.
The two went shopping on Amazon together, looking up terms like "Sunday school classroom" and "vacation Bible school."
Cross knew exactly what he wanted, adding items to their cart with the confidence of a seasoned party planner.
"Cross was set on Jesus being the main focus," Flagg noted.⁴
The little guy wanted rainbow cupcakes to represent God’s promise, Jesus figures on top of the treats, and special gifts for all his guests.
This wasn’t just any ordinary birthday party
Cross didn’t just want to celebrate – he wanted to share something meaningful with his friends and family.
The birthday boy gave every guest the same Kids Bible he reads each night, plus coloring pages, Jesus bracelets, PlayDoh, and bubbles.
But the real showstopper came at the end of the party.
Cross had prepared something special for the adults – salvation bracelets made of colored beads, with each bead representing a step in the plan of salvation.
"He went around and handed them to each adult, even bringing some grown men to tears," Flagg shared.⁵
The moment wasn’t lost on anyone there.
Here was this 5-year-old, completely comfortable with his faith, wanting to share his joy with everyone he loved.
The reaction says everything about this little boy’s heart
Flagg says none of the guests were surprised by Cross’s theme choice.
"When my friends heard he chose his theme as a Jesus party, they were moved. No one was shocked in the sense that it’s Cross, and this is who he is," she explained.⁶
Cross is known among his friends for sharing Christian music and encouraging Bible reading.
This wasn’t some random phase or something he’d picked up from Sunday school – this was pure Cross being Cross.
"He’s unashamed and loves learning about Jesus, so therefore he is always eager to share about it. A Jesus-themed party just made sense to them," his proud mother said.⁷
Look, in a world where kids are exposed to all kinds of garbage before they can even tie their shoes, here’s a 5-year-old who chose to celebrate the one thing that actually matters.
Cross didn’t want the latest video game character or cartoon theme.
He wanted to share Jesus with his friends and family.
What this really shows us
Here’s what gets me about this story.
A 5-year-old had to come up with this idea because the adults – including his parents – never thought of it.
Flagg admits she’s "been raised around Jesus and church my entire life and I’ve never heard of a Jesus-themed party."⁸
Think about that for a moment.
We’ve normalized every possible birthday theme except the one that could actually change lives.
Kids can have parties celebrating fictional superheroes, but a party celebrating the real Savior catches everyone off guard?
Cross figured out something that escaped all the adults around him: if something is important enough to read about every night and pray about, it’s important enough to celebrate.
The boy’s natural instinct was to share what brings him the greatest joy with the people he loves most.
That’s not just sweet – that’s profound wisdom from someone who can barely reach the kitchen counter.
And the impact was immediate and real.
"I’ve seen some of our guests who still wear the bracelet and say that it’s a reminder to them to have childlike faith," Flagg noted.⁹
Grown men walked away from a 5-year-old’s birthday party with tears in their eyes and renewed faith in their hearts.
When’s the last time a superhero party did that?
Cross Flagg didn’t just throw a birthday party – he threw down a challenge to every adult who thinks faith should be kept quiet or that kids are too young to understand what really matters.
This little boy proved that sometimes the most powerful witness comes from someone who’s not even old enough for kindergarten yet.
¹ Hannah Sacks, "Mom Shocked When Her Son, 5, Wants a Jesus-Themed Birthday Party. Then the Celebration Brought ‘Grown Men to Tears’ (Exclusive)," PEOPLE, October 7, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ Ibid.
⁴ Ibid.
⁵ Ibid.
⁶ Ibid.
⁷ Ibid.
⁸ Ibid.
⁹ Ibid.
