Celebrating the Little Things

One of the most gratifying experiences of parenting is watching the emergence of your child’s soul.
                                                           -Steve and Valerie Bell, Faith-Shaped Kids

While parties are fun, true celebration is more of an attitude than an event. Eleven years of motherhood and five children have taught me that I don’t need to wait for the “big things” to rejoice. Choosing to commemorate the “small things” with a child-like awe fuels a lifetime of celebration.  While I am not naturally-inclined to celebrate daily delights, my children have modeled this secret to joy time and time again.

One impromptu party that remains embedded in my mind took place when Hannah was 18 months old.  I was standing at the kitchen sink while Hannah perused the book shelf in the adjacent room. Pulling out each selection one by one, Hannah fingered a variety of reading options. Eventually she decided to page through a musical children’s book. Protruding from the first colorful page was a red button that begged to be pushed. Hannah’s little fingers poked the mysterious gadget until a lyrical melody filled the air. From somewhere deep inside the chosen book, happy bells tinkled a familiar Sunday School tune. Suddenly, Hannah’s eyes brightened.  A look of recognition lit her face and her chubby baby hands began to clap to the music.

In blurred but understandable toddler lingo, Hannah began to sing.“YESUS WUVS ME… YESUS WOVES ME,” she croned as her squat little body swayed with the music. As if on cue, Lizzy walked into the room and stopped dead in her tracks. Silently, she watched her baby sister.

Soon, a smile covered my  four-year-old daughter’s face. With a whoop of joy, Lizzy raised her arms in the air and declared, “Hallelujah! Hannah is learning to Praise the Lord!”

With a giggle, I dropped my soapy sponge and joined the party in the living room. The angels in heaven were celebrating and I needed to join them!