Choosing To Pause and Celebrate The Little Things
I listened to a sermon this morning about the importance of celebrating! He spoke about God instructing the Israelites to gather stones out of the Jordan River that He miraculously stopped from flowing and to set them up as a memorial of what God had done. God had told them to do this for their own benefit as well as for future generations who would need to be reminded of His faithfulness. Taking the time to stop in the middle of a dry river bed that had been at flood stage just a few moments beforehand, and to grab a stone was a way to truly embrace the gravity of the moment, and to continue the impact of that moment well into the future.
Sometimes, we race so quickly through life, that we actually miss the beauty of God’s goodness in our moments. When we do this, we also forfeit allowing its impact to help propel us forward into our upcoming moments. God has intended for the many displays of his goodness to leave ongoing ripples that affect our hearts as well as others. He doesn’t intend for each moment to be singled out and useless once they’re complete. He has designed for each moment to play into the next and to weave together with ongoing moments. In turn, this creates a masterpiece of a story that brings glory to God as they display His character and His love to His people.
As I was listening to this sermon, I couldn’t help but pause and reflect on where I am at in my life. I am pregnant with our fourth baby, a girl, and due any day now. Our family has traveled the world in the last two years. We have been through many ups and downs, but the Lord has proved His faithfulness time and time again. Our marriage suffered greatly during the summer and fall of 2022. Moreover, Our finances dwindled drastically, and we felt that we were barely hanging on. We did not have a community to lean on, and were still trying to make our way in Colorado. My husband’s dad very suddenly passed away in September of 2022, and John hit an all time low.
We both came to the end of ourselves, and God met us there. It was a time of breaking that we might not have chosen. But it was also one that marked us for the rest of our lives. As I began to let go of control, I began to watch God go to work. I knew I could not change or fix anything. I watched Him pursue and build me up in a way that I had never before experienced. He became my everything as I dwindled to nothing. I watched God begin to awaken my husband in brand new ways, and to spark new life back into him. I watched God begin to mold and reshape our marriage, and set it much more firmly on His foundation. Further, I watched my three other beautiful children just blossom and minister to their parents unintentionally through this hard time.
Then, as the new year rolled around, God gave us a beautiful community to be surrounded by. He provided a new job for John that would ease some financial strain. And He brought us to a peace about trying for another baby. As we have moved back to Texas and embraced the new phase of life that God led us to, God helped me to slow down and appreciate the many miracles He had performed for our family. I am now soaking in the great blessing that I know this new baby will be, not just for her family, and her community, but also for the Lord Himself. I truly believe she will touch His heart as she allows Him to touch hers.
As my body aches and swells with anticipation, it seems rather easy for me to just wish to be on the other side of this delivery. I certainly long for what is next. But in the waiting, I will choose to pause and celebrate. I will find ways to take memorial stones from all that He has done. Further, I will set them up so that my family and I can always remember the beauty of how God vibrantly displayed His love to us throughout this journey. I choose to say “Thank you, Lord,” for my sweet husband and all of the many ways that He loves and pursues the heart of the Father as well as my heart.
I choose to hug my little girl and two little boys. Further I rejoice in their unique personalities, and all the unique ways that they represent Jesus to those around them. I choose to continue to give this baby girl back into the hands of God. I entrust her whole life to Him and thank Him immensely for just allowing me to be a part of her life. We choose to stand in miracles and recognize them for what they are. We choose to grab our memorial stones along with others in their miracles and set them up as permanent reminders. Thank you, Jesus.