Celebrations!

The holiday season rapidly approaches, and our thoughts softly turn to past celebrations and those in the weeks ahead, because celebrations are important to us.  When I read or hear that word I remember that some years ago, Chuck Swindoll spoke on “extravagant celebrations” at Mount Herman.  He shared his thoughts on Mary’s pouring costly perfume over Jesus, and Christ’s washing the feet of the disciples before the Last Supper.  Pastor Swindoll reminded us that celebrations – even the simple or extravagant ones can be good and offer us a way to honor God, as we focus on others.

Celebrations have been defined as: “to observe/commemorate an event/date with festivities; to make known publicly, to perform appropriate rites, to perform a religious ceremony, or simply to praise widely.” The one I think best describes what can give central honor to Christ is “to observe or commemorate an event or date with festivities“.

Jesus not only celebrated those calendared events given to the Israelites by God the Father, we find the New Testament filled with those smaller celebrations that He initiated, or in which he participated.  Jesus modeled them not only for the benefit of those in His day, but for us today – I think as a stimulus for finding meaningful celebrations of our own that will give honor to God.

Most of us will celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years in the next two months, but I wonder if we miss the smaller, equally important, but less notable opportunities for celebration that will draw us closer to God, and to one another.

The Engagement Period that precedes a wedding is often a non-stop celebration – dating and parties, etc.   Weddings themselves are a celebration of the wonderful gift that God gave to man and woman in marriage and cleaving to one another. After the wedding, marriage celebrations seem to fade and ‘dating’ one another tends to stop as we settle into the things of life.   Why is that?

We have so much to celebrate.  We have each other; most of us have family and friends, careers and Kingdom work that we’re a part of.  Each of those provide grand opportunities for celebrations – small and large – simple and extravagant.   An ata-boy from a boss – a returning prodigal son or daughter – a promotion or raise – a good report from the doctor – seldom seen family or friends arriving [or departing] – a good report card – even a good grade on a test – seeing spiritual growth in a child – all these are worthy of a celebration.  Instead, most of us reserve any recognition and celebration to birthdays, anniversaries or holidays.

As we consider an event worthy of celebration, we are to do so with a thankful heart.  We can and should celebrate the major events of life – the cultural and family things – but also those in our marriage like the simple return home of a spouse after a trip – having each other to turn to after a difficult day – completing a longstanding item on his or her honeydo list – a regular ‘date’ night with your spouse – paying off a credit card – good job review – the completion of a simple or major goal that God brought to fruition.  Above all we give praise to God and celebrate the journey, the experiences, and just having the blessing of our spouse or event to celebrate in our lives.   Such praise not only brings us closer to Christ, but to our husband or wife as well.

As you ponder the countless ways to celebrate in your marriage, remember one desire here is to help you find those creative ways to honor Christ by making meaningful celebrations come often in your marriage. Don Farr is a Certified LifePlan™ Facilitator and Coach in Paradise Valley, Arizona – find him on the web at http://www.ncs-az.net/lifeplan.htm