Celebrate

Happy New Year!

For most of us, this signifies the end of a season filled with celebrations, rich foods, and family visits. The New Year also launches many of us into renewed commitments to living better through healthier diets, a more robust prayer life, focused exercise, and purposeful relationships. It has always looked like a whiplash to me – from party, party, party to discipline, discipline, discipline. Can you hear the screeching tires as we slam on the brakes to abruptly move from one direction to the other?

I am someone who enjoys both the party and the discipline. I find real enjoyment in both and think each have tremendous value. It is the abrupt 180* heel-pivot from only one to only the other that makes my head spin and my heart hurt. This party girl appreciates structure, and this disciplined daughter loves a good celebration. I believe each can be embraced without guilt over the other.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

King Solomon recognized the importance of each season; that we are created to embrace so many things that appear to be opposites. As I look at this list, I truly believe they are intended to work hand-in-hand throughout life, not in exclusion of the other. We can’t fully know the thrill of hearty laughter unless we have experienced gut-wrenching sorrow. We can’t plant for the next harvest without first clearing and preparing the land from the remnants of the last one. We can’t be heard without taking time to first be quiet.

While the flip of the calendar from December to January might mean you see fewer parties in the coming month, go ahead and make time to celebrate even the little moments. Crank up your favorite song and dance in the kitchen. Kiss your spouse a little longer. Hugs your kids a little tighter. Eat your favorite meal because you made it through Monday/a difficult meeting/laundry. An abundant life is filled with the mixture of such moments and we have the privilege of pausing to embrace them. They are everyday ways that our loving Father whispers….

You are adored.