Why Celebrating Life Is Important

Why Celebrating Life Is Important

Why celebrating life is important
It was great to connect with a friend I have not seen for a decade or so. She told me “hope you are still celebrating”. And it got me thinking and taking a stock of my life. You see, celebrating life sums my way of living quite well. I’ve always thought life was a gift and we should love life and especially the Giver of Life. That’s my heart. That’s my soul. That’s my worship. Or, at least, it used to be.

When I got that email from my friend, it really got me thinking. Am I still celebrating? Or is something missing? I realized that I had been withdrawing from community. Not intentionally but because I’ve been studying the Bible quite extensively and writing a lot, it has taken a toll on my social life. But we are not meant to live apart from community.

I also realized that raising children has made me a bit too pragmatic. I realized I need to goof off a bit more, be silly with my kids, do something just for fun, celebrate life right now, right here. Like I used to do. I never thought I should be reminded of celebrating life but here I am. I never thought I could get too serious.

I know all this time of studying and praying has been part of preparation for something God is planning for me to do. I think this time is slowly coming to an end as God is reminding me of community and celebrating life. I think it is time for me to re-emerge into real life. I am so looking forward to finding out what God has planned for me to do.

I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live;moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, NRSV)

Just now I got a note from another friend stating that the joy of the Lord is my strength. And I realized I need to point out the distinction between the joy in the Lord and celebrating life. Joy comes from the Lord. It is the joy of salvation. If we want to be filled with joy, we just need to be filled with God. When we abide in Jesus, we have joy even if the world tumbles down around us.

On the other hand celebrating life means the joy of the Lords finds an expression in life (other than the happy glow of faith). Celebrating life means we put the joy of the Lord in practice. Celebrating life means we boldly and joyfully live out our faith in real life. Because This is the day the Eternal God has made; let us celebrate and be happy today. (Psalm 118:21-25)

 

 

Gracious God,
Make the joy of the Lord even more pronounced in our lives.
Let our hearts soar with the Holy Spirit.
Show us what celebrating life really means.
Enable us to put the joy of the Lord in practice
and shine brightly for your glory.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: How about you? Are you celebrating life?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you celebrate life and the Giver of Life!

Photo courtesy of Hillary Grantham, design Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with Faith-filled Fridays and Faith Jam.

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