Celebrate

Celebrate

Yes, the LORD has done amazing things for us! What joy!

COOKIE DOUGH, Neapolitan, and brownie batter ice creams. Maraschino cherries, whipped cream, chocolate sauce. Oh, and sprinkles. Skimming down my list, I penciled in the items I needed to purchase, tapping my pen as I tried to recall anything I needed to add. Can’t forget the marshmallow creme.

Our family was in a bit of a rut. We had been working and doing school from home for a few weeks and were already restless. Each day felt a bit like a broken record, the same routines repeated over and over. So I had decided that the following weekend we were going to start a new tradition: Sunday Sundaes. Each Sunday evening, I planned to pull out ice cream and all the fixings and turn it into a celebration. Months have passed since that first sundae celebration, and it’s now a tradition we rarely miss.

Celebrations are dotted throughout Scripture: in Nehemiah, as the Israelites dedicated a wall; in the Year of Jubilee every fiftieth year; in the Passover, as a remembrance of God’s faithfulness to his people. Celebrations help define our calendars and provide a rhythm to our lives. We’re good at celebrating big moments like birthdays and holidays with fireworks and food, presents, and gatherings. But what about smaller, everyday celebrations?

Life is full of opportunities to celebrate—if only we’ll choose to see them. We can celebrate the dishes being done with an impromptu dance party. We can celebrate the end of a successful working day with a relaxing bath or a sunny day with a walk outside to enjoy the fresh air. These small celebrations, woven into the fabric of our lives, make ordinary moments feel extraordinary. When we find small moments to celebrate, we honor God’s work in our lives—they are a testament to his love for us. The same God who mourns when a sparrow falls is surely pleased when we stop to notice the beauty of a sunrise, the spicy flavors of a good stew, or the warmth of someone’s hand in ours. When we choose to find reasons to celebrate, we remind ourselves of God’s goodness and thank him for all he’s done and is doing.

Lord, thank you that we can celebrate this life in big and small ways. Help us to find opportunities to do so each day. Amen.

-Kristin

One Good Step: Find something to celebrate, then do it.