Wednesday, May 2, 2018

First Spiritual Thursday - Celebrate


What manner of celebration is this?
Today's post is hosted by Violet Nesdoly who is encouraging us to share how we observe or celebrate a special day: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, a birthday, anniversary...

I'm having trouble with this today.  Is it because often, the actual date for the even and our celebration do not occur on the same day?  I began to think about my conversation with my daughter about how it is not important that you see the person on that special day, as much as you celebrate with them when you ARE with them.

With families spread over miles and years, it has been difficult to keep things rounded up neatly to do what is expected in the expected time frame.  But as Christmas is not really December 25, and Easter doesn't have a set date... why do we care?  The important thing is that we DO care, just not that it has to be some particular day.

I celebrate every day the fact that I gave birth to two wonderful children.  I celebrate the fact that my husband was born, and that I was, too!  The dates are not the important thing to me, so we sometimes wait until it is convenient to make the more "public" celebration when it fits.

There are so many ways that I find joy and celebrate, that I actually find regular days to be more celebratory than an actual special day.  I'm feeling at a loss with this topic today.  Maybe it is the personal intricacies and complications lately, that make me feel empty headed right this moment.  Let me try a poem instead and see what comes of it.

Celebrations

I treasure ordinary moments
much more than special days
I want to make the most of all
avoiding hype and craze;
 I breathe in deeply when I see
the ocean or a tree
I look around and see the birds
and marvel how they're free
no cares, no need
to send a card
no deeds
beyond the yard
There's nothing in 
the nest to wrap
Nothing to state
 they're late for hap
A calendar does not exist
with anniversary, birthday list...
I smile to watch
the sun go down
and stretch on rise again
I stare at stars and peek at moon
while picking up my pen
to write a note, a word
or two and buy some Christmas gifts -
but "Look!" there snow that's piling up
where drafts blow making drifts
Then I want to stay inside
and watch it for a while
Or maybe go outside a bit
and build a snowman's smile 
Can anything be better than the
family gathered round?
Who needs to have a reason
for love and joy's surround?
Give me the dew, the frost, the rain
Give me a grandchild's laughter
And I will be happy celebrating
Well into the hereafter. 


by Donna JT Smith, 5/3/2018

Okay that's what came out. Maybe I'll read it!  Then perhaps I'll edit it someday, or maybe add to it.  But I THINK that addresses how I'm feeling right now, if it doesn't address the actual topic.  I apologize.  God's goodness is so finely wrapped around my life and my surroundings that I have trouble sometimes isolating the spots.  And we just don't put much emphasis on celebrations.  We are not organizers of fun.  Fun just is.  Goodness, that just made me smile!  Fun just is.  Celebrations are all around all the time.  Well, if this didn't speak to the topic or to you, it is A-Ohhh-Kay! because it was another little celebration for me all on its own! LOL!
You have a great day!  I'm gonna have me another great day!


Yesterday we celebrated 80+ degrees in Maine by taking the motorcycle for it's first spin...off to the beach!  Hopefully, tomorrow my husband will be on his bike, too.

Woo-hoo!

7 comments:

  1. The joy of life you exhibit every day - as seen in your writing - is evident! What a happy life!

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  2. Well, I think you addressed the topic perfectly! Actually, when I reviewed what I had picked as a topic, after I picked way back at the end of last year/beginning of this, my feelings were not unlike yours... as I asked myself, what was I thinking!? I love you celebration of every moment and every season poem and your practical point of view! Enjoy the heat!!

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  3. Dear Donna, I am celebrating you on that motorcycle this very moment! Yes to treasuring the ordinary moment. So much in this life to be celebrated. I'm glad you were born, too. xo

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  4. Donna, I wave hello as you speedily make your way to the beach. I will be doing the same today but my mode of travel is the car and then a wonderful walk on the boardwalk with my husband. Life is full of ordinary celebrations so I do like you take on the topic. It is full of positivity and inspiration=>
    Who needs to have a reason
    for love and joy's surround?

    ReplyDelete
  5. After the long, long, L-O-N-G winter that so many of us persevered though Donna, I celebrate the warmer days and your much awaited motorcycle ride today! Thank you for your memories, your celebrations, and the love of family in your post.

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  6. I so agree with you, Donna, about celebrating life. That is really living. Love the thought behind the lines: "Who needs to have a reason / for love and joy's surround?"

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  7. Great post! It's so wonderful to treasure those ordinary moments.

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