Women Celebrating Women

Celebrate the Small Things

Celebrations normally flow from a place of gratefulness when there are so many things to complain about, and to be distressed about so the effort to be grateful must be intentional.  

We serve God by serving others, so we must be diligent in supporting and encouraging each other in every aspect of life. It is easy to give in to the trials and upsets of life when our lives are void of encouragement, therefore, we must be deliberate about celebrating one another. Discouragement is the breeding ground for seeds of ungratefulness and ungratefulness breeds bitterness  then resentment and jealousy towards others. Expressing love and gratefulness for one another  would generate the desire to celebrate one another honestly  and joyfully.

Romans chapter 12:9a, 14-16 MSG "Love from the centre of who you are, don't fake it... Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody." 

Wow! how tempting it can be in wanting everyone’s focus and attention to be on ourselves all the time for some reason or another.  Then there are the few of us who would just wish we could walk around being invisible and it takes  someone who has the characteristics of Romans 12:9, 14-16 to ensure that the spotlight gets turned on others accordingly.  It is okay to share the spotlight every once in a while.   As Christians we can get caught up in the piety of being in the background always but then we grumble and complain when we are overlooked.  

Maybe for a moment that’s how Martha felt. There are two ways Martha’s response can be interpreted- Martha had the gift of hospitality so she operated in that capacity whenever the occasion presented itself; Mary on the other hand only wanted one thing, that was to sit at the feet of Jesus .  It was at Jesus’ feet she found life transformation. Martha began to feel left out, she loved helping and serving others, but she was not in the spotlight of things.                            

Luke 10:38-40 MSG “…, Jesus entered a village.  A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home.  She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said.  But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen.  Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.” ^41-42 The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing.  One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it-it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.”

Not until Jesus explained it to Martha, that she sees the value in what Mary desired, she complained and wanted to discredit it. When we learn to see the value in ourselves, our gifts and qualities we will begin to shine and celebrate what God has placed inside of us and then those around us will see that light and celebrate (shame on those who try to put it out). When we can see beyond our own insecurities, realise and appreciate our value then we will be more forthcoming about celebrating others.  

If we serve in love, then celebrating one another should come easy to us, it generates encouragement. To celebrate does not necessarily have to be a great gathering of sorts, but acknowledging in word or conversation, affirming and congratulating or even seeking them out to share with others that special talent or quality.  

Some of us find it hard to celebrate another's accomplishments, talents and giftedness - Kudos to those who find joy in celebrating another, what you give from the abundance of your heart it will come back to you.   Luke 6:37,38 MSG - "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticise their faults-unless of course, you want the same treatment.  Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back, but not merely_given back -given back with bonus and blessing.  Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."  

By virtue, we as women are prime multitaskers and  excel at various skills and abilities so there is always an opportunity to celebrate one another.

Celebrate each other's life successes, victories even milestones

We should be quick to build each other up instead of tearing down. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 MSG "…So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it."  So, when something good happens talk about it, let that be the subject of our conversations, find something good to say. 

Growing up my mom would say "keep your mouth shut if you can't find anything good to say”, that's what I am saying now. Be generous with your compliments - congratulate the promotion, the engagement, the achievement; compliment the new hairdo, the gorgeous shoes or the new dress or hat. If you like it then say so, if you heard something good has happened or is happening in a sister's life, talk about it; acknowledge it.  1 Thess. 5: ^13a “…Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part,”

Individually, we all must recognise the value of our own successes and victories 

Sadly, sometimes we are selfish without even recognising it and kill the opportunity to celebrate each other. There are times when we hinder our own celebratory moments because of selfishness. We want to keep all that goodness to ourselves; a selfish attitude will stop our blessings. So, do not hide it, let us celebrate it. If we do not acknowledge all the goodness in our lives we even miss out on ministering opportunities.  Share the trials and the deliverances, share your story, and celebrate it and all the victories you experience along the way.

Parable of the Lost Coin - Luke 15:8-10 

The Story of the Lost Coin verses 8-10 “...Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she’ll call her friends and neighbours: ‘Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!’ Count on it—that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God.”  Celebrate the return of a wayward child, husband, new job, a deliverance, child's good grades, a new venture, answered prayer etc. Then there are those times when we are privy to some good news about someone that's worth sharing and celebrating, but yield to the temptation to grudgingly withhold the information from others and then there's a missed opportunity to celebrate a sister.   

Sadly, there is a tendency to quickly share the disturbing news, gossip which spreads like a wildfire.   By the grace of God let us resist this temptation.  Romans 12:9,10  ⁹Let love be without dissimulation, Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. ¹⁰Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 

The premise for celebrating each other is LOVE. 

Loving each other allows for a natural and easy flow of being grateful, the desire to celebrate and encourage especially as children of God. The Word of God overflows with the command to love: - 

John 13:34-35 ³⁴ A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. ³⁵By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 

John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 

John 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another. 

Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 

and one of my favourites

Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Contemplate on Hebrew 10: 23-25 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

 Connect

This article may have been directed to us as women but in truth everyone is worth celebrating.  Celebrating the people in our lives is so important particularly in fostering goodwill and loving our fellowmen. So, no matter who you are, wherever you may fit in humanity you are worth celebrating.  Parents, siblings, spouses, friends, colleagues you are valuable and the assurance rests in John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  You cannot get it any better than that.

My heart's desire is to be grateful always, to celebrate the small victories in life always, to love unconditionally. To serve God wholeheartedly, to trust and to extend grace. I love you with the love of God and it is my prayer that we all grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. 

 

Prayer: 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 MSG

May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers.

 I celebrate you my sisters, much love

Mauricia