A Worthy Celebration
Blog | Family | Life Lessons
One week ago our quiet little town burst into noisy bloom. Thousands of tulips exploded into rainbow-blossomed beauty along our sidewalks, in our parks, and through our neighborhoods. Hundreds of wooden-shoe-clad feet clomped across our streets as locals in traditional Dutch costumes participated in marching and singing and dancing for three festive days. Irresistible aromas wafted from one side of the square to the other.
Funnel cakes, bologna on a stick, and tiny sugared pancakes tantalized the taste buds of tens of thousands of hungry guests who joined us in celebration. For residents of our small town, Tulip Time marks the official onslaught of spring.
For three days we celebrate our Dutch heritage with extravagant parades, authentic costumes and irresistible food. For three days, we celebrate our forefathers who abandoned their homeland and established our little community as a place to worship God freely. For three days, we remember the long-ago past and in some small way, it makes us more grateful for our present.
As the girls were pulling on layer after layer of their traditional Dutch dresses Hannah said, “I can’t believe that kids used to have to wear this stuff. I can barely breathe in here!”
Then, with a smile typical of my resident Polly-anna, she added, “I’m really glad we have Tulip Time because it makes me remember how lucky I am to be a kid today!.…”
“Yeah,” Lizzy added as she stuffed her toes into a pair of wooden shoes. “Those poor Dutch kids long ago didn’t even know about flip-flops! They just had to live with sore feet all the time!”
Now and then, we all need a little reminder of just how lucky we are to be God’s kids today.
Our forefathers may have sunk the roots for the life we currently enjoy, but long before that our Heavenly Father blazed a far greater freedom trail. Because Jesus was willing to leave His rightful home in Heaven and establish God’s Kingdom on earth, we can worship freely the One who holds the key to our past, our present, and our future.
His nail scarred feet have set ours free to dance- in flip flops or wooden shoes! Whether or not you’re Dutch, that’s a truth worthy of celebrating all year round.
The Overflow: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free -Galatians 5:1
