After a wedding, the bride and groom are normally expected to send out thank you notes. I have to admit, I really dropped the ball on the thank you's. I was thinking about how many more of these little note cards need to go out still, seven months after the wedding, and I began to think of what this tradition means. We were, and still are, so very thankful for all the people who made our wedding day beautiful. If I could, I'd send a gift card, box of chocolates and singing telegram to every person who helped us celebrate. I have never felt more loved than my wedding day. I praise God for that gift all the time.
So, if we thank people who joined us on our biggest day, why don't we thank people for participating in other incredible moments. Why don't I thank God more often for all that he's seen me enjoy and celebrate? God rejoices over us more than anyone, yet I forget how much joy he sees in our celebrations. Sometimes, I forget that celebration can be a spiritual discipline. I love the idea of celebrating the little things - surviving a tough week, accomplishing a goal, working through a difficult conflict with a friend. Celebration seems to be this way of saying, "I choose to find joy. I choose to be thankful for all that God has given me." It may seem insignificant or even unfortunate, but celebration challenges us to look to God before we internalize something.
Recently, Reed took me to an awesome dinner at one of our favorite places, Bone Fish. We rarely eat there, but he said he wanted to celebrate. This was two weeks ago. In April. Far away from any of our "reasons" for celebration. Still, he said he wanted to celebrate the fact that I'd survived a really tough week and that I'd worked through some difficult things in a relationship. How cool is this man? He's so good at keeping me sane and letting me know life is full of reasons for thank you's.
Tonight, I feel full of thank you's and small celebrations. I'm at home by myself, resting with a cup of tea and good music. Tonight is a gift. I don't often get to be this still, and I sometimes forget how restful it is. I'm thankful for my husband, a man who truly seeks God's best for me and for us. He likes me and affirms me so much, and he daily works to love me better. Sometimes I just can't believe he chose me. I love my best friend. I'm thankful for a loving family that know me and encourage me. I'm thankful for God's grace as I recognize how little I know. He's been teaching me so much about trusting him and remaining him, and I feel like I'm being humbled more everyday. I'm thankful for friends that laugh with me and cry with me and seek God with me. I'm thankful for peaceful, simple nights like this one.
I've struggled to see the thank you's in each day. Like I've mentioned before, it seems God is bringing me into a new place of joy and trust. I'm learning to remain in him (John 15). So, tonight I praise God for how good he is. Oh, how he loves us.