Welcome to Pushing Pause where we take a moment each week to explore faith, rest, and beauty in our everyday lives. In each week’s email you’ll find a short reflection, a resource, and a practice to go deeper with the week’s topic. I’m glad you’re here!
This past Sunday I had the honor of doing a baby dedication for a newborn at our church. This was the 2nd time I’ve had that privilege for families in our congregation in the past few months and in each of those moments it has been a reminder that though this past year has been collectively hard, it is still bearing good and beautiful gifts.
As we stood before the church we claimed the day as a celebration. One where we entered into the joy of this new baby’s life and committed to pray and walk with the family in helping their daughter know her belovedness in Christ. Moments like this point us back to the truth that celebration is a form of worship.
Some of us are more prone to celebration than others. I have friends who have a gift for celebrating and it makes life so fun and special. I tend to lean into quiet celebration. I’m not the first to cheer or raise my glass for a toast but I love to mark meaningful events and affirm others during momentous occasions. There’s not one right way but it is good to build celebration in big and small ways into our lives.
1 Corinthians 12:25-27
25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
As followers of Christ we belong to one another and we share in both one another’s suffering and rejoicing. Community is built on being present and coming alongside each other in the heartaches and needs of life but on the flip-side of that, it’s also built in the moments of showing up in support and joy in the celebrations of life.
I want to be a person of celebration! Following 2020 where it felt so much celebration was stripped from our calendar, maybe we need to treat celebration like a spiritual discipline, a deliberate choice to see a moment through the lens of celebration and call out the good. It’s bearing witness to the joys of life and naming it. As we do may we settle our eyes on the face of God and with light and full hearts let our celebration become our worship.
A Practice
Cultivate Celebration
We can choose celebration even in small ways. Whether you have a milestone moment, a success in a current struggle, or you just pick a silly holiday to celebrate for fun, make a point of doing something in celebration. Celebrating can be personal but it’s also special to build community into our celebrations. Here are a few ideas:
Write a card of appreciation and drop off a treat to celebrate a friendship.
Host a Mother’s Day brunch potluck.
If you notice a personal accomplishment or area of growth in your child, affirm him/her and call out the good you see.
Pick a silly holiday to celebrate this month
Celebrate a teacher or nurse this week for national teachers or nurses day.
Print and give a reward certificate to people in your family to celebrate even small accomplishments, good character, or just for fun!
Treat yourself! Maybe you’re the one who needs to be celebrated. Take some time to name the good, practice gratitude, and do something kind for yourself.
I hope this week you find something to celebrate and that the practice of it fills you with joy. Thanks for reading! - Lindsay