Celebrate the little things!
Many years ago when our daughter Marissa was about five years old, she started asking for a dog. The answer was always an emphatic, “No. Never.” Our comfort level for pets had extended to a Floridian anole lizard that got by on a couple of crickets per week, but no farther. Keeping track of the care and feeding of four children was all the more responsibility I was willing to undertake.
Marissa was persistent, however. One day she asked again and I said, “Maybe someday.” Her eyes lit up with the tiniest glimmer of hope. Until she heard the rest of my answer.
“Maybe someday —if it’s okay with your husband.”
She rolled her eyes at my joke. But it got me thinking more about this undying wish of hers to have a dog. My husband and I actually started talking seriously about it once we moved to a home with a fenced-in yard. We decided to make Marissa’s dream come true. We found a puppy to take home.
Thus began the story of our first dog, Cinco de Mayo Bushlack. Born on the fifth of May 2007. And because of that, we celebrated that dog’s birthday with a Mexican fiesta for years and years. I liked our dog just fine, and I love a good enchilada. But the celebration outsized the occasion. The celebration had a different purpose.
It was simply a celebration for celebration’s sake. A made up occasion to celebrate life. A celebration of a little girl’s dream come true. A celebration of family and fabulous food and all the amazing little things that God lavishes on us. A celebration of God’s goodness in all the little things that add up to a lifetime of joy.
So parents, this is my encouragement to you: Be on the lookout for little things you can celebrate: The first day of summer vacation. The first time you hear the ice cream truck in your neighborhood. The release of a favorite artist’s new album. The onset of Chick-fil-a’s Peach Frosted Lemonade season! Find a small joy to celebrate and then outsize your celebration just for the fun of it. Because every small joy points to our generous King.
“…Let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise His name with dancing and make music to Him with timbrel and harp.” (Psalm 149:2-3)