We Need More Celebration!

My oldest daughter graduated from PreK today and I really can’t believe it – time is not slowing down and there’s nothing I can really do about it!

And I couldn’t believe that they busted out all stops for the celebration including gowns and tassels and even these nice certificates to showcase that they made it through the program. I have mixed feelings about the whole event but in the end I suppose it’s no big deal – it’s just a celebration and a really good excuse to have cupcakes, candy, and to dress up a bit!

Heck, why not, right?

But as I sat there I captured a few moments that I want to never forget, most importantly the look on my daughter’s face as she celebrated her accomplishment.

To her, this moment was everything and nothing could be more important than this day. Her entire 5.5 years of life had been leading up to this moment and here it was - glorious! It shone on her face and the energy radiated out of her that it would almost knock you down.

I wondered to myself if I still had that kind of zest for the things that I do. I wonder if you still have that kind of zeal and excitement for the things that you do?

Near the end they had the opportunity to toss the thing that had been sitting on their head for far too long and it was the moment!

I whispered to her across the room feeling like she could hear me:

Go on, throw that thing as hard as you possibly can! Hit the ceiling…! Break through it!

She did. She went for it. She nearly took someone’s head off.

Excellent. Way to go.

Unfortunately as we grow older there are fewer and fewer moments like these that we can stand back and appreciate all that we are and all that we have – and life can feel so complicated and so obstructed that there’s simply no time to throw your hands up in the air and just celebrate.

I want to spend more time in celebration because it helps me realize how good I have it and how blessed I really am. Not just for the big things but also the small things. Anything from that tasty meal and incredible conversation with a good friend to winning an important organization-changing contract. All of them are worth celebrating. All of them are worth taking someone’s head off with excitement (at least my own).

I challenge you to do the same.

Later that morning I saw a picture that she made of what she wants to do when she grows up:

I had no idea. I had no idea she even knew what a veterinarian was! I’m not even sure I know what a veterinarian does!

She is so full of surprises – I pray she doesn’t stop surprising me. I love it.