Even though I was reluctant to celebrate, God was persistent ... Celebration was like a big cherry on top of the best hot fudge sundae—sweet and life-giving. (Pamela Piquette)
A TIME OF UPHEAVAL
The results of a misstep off a high curb cascaded far beyond the injury to my pelvis. Daily migraines and unceasing, total-body pain marked my days. My health took a nosedive, and the weeks bled into months. It felt like everything was torn away, and life moved in slow motion.
At the same time, my husband was remodeling our kitchen, and each day brought news of additional things that needed fixing—many I could never have imagined. One day, as I stood in what used to be my kitchen, I realized that everything was torn down: the drywall on the walls and ceiling was gone, there was no running water, plumbing pipes and wiring were exposed. My refrigerator sat in the dining room on a piece of plywood. My kitchen table was shoved into a corner in what used to be my daughter’s bedroom.
TEARING DOWN AND BUILDING UP
During this time, I had been reading, re-reading, and pondering A Season for Everything from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NLT.
For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace. (emphasis mine)
A time to tear down and a time to build up (Ecclesiastes 3:3b) caught my attention every time I read it because it seemed like everything in my body and around me was being torn down.
My health deteriorated further. I hadn’t showered in at least three days. I spent my days in bed or wearing my robe that hadn’t been washed in I don’t know how long. When I awoke, I didn’t feel much like celebrating my 50th birthday. I anticipated heading straight back to bed—not an auspicious way to celebrate this milestone birthday, but it was what I could manage.
UNEXPECTED CELEBRATION AMID THE CHAOS
Imagine my surprise when a friend showed up to celebrate me (and did not recoil from the shock of my disaster-zone kitchen, my smell, and my uncombed hair!). She offered her presence, time, a thoughtful gift wrapped in pretty paper, and a listening ear. I shared something with her that I had noticed about a time to tear down being followed by a time to build up. We chatted and prayed, finding hope in sitting together, pondering the building-up time (a thought that resonated with her, too).
As she left, I headed back to bed—but not for long because another friend showed up to celebrate me, sharing time, a listening ear, and bringing me a sweet gift. Again, I rehearsed the truths I was learning about being torn down to be built up.
This happened four more times throughout the day. Dear ones were intentional in stopping by to celebrate me. Perhaps the sorry state I was in, and the torn-down state of my home, gave us a clearer picture of being torn down and the importance of celebrating amid the chaos. Even though I was reluctant to celebrate, God was persistent, providing ways to celebrate what He was doing in and around me. While my body and surroundings were a hot mess, my soul and spirit were thriving. Celebration was like a big cherry on top of the best hot fudge sundae—sweet and life-giving.
A CHOICE TO CELEBRATE EVERY DAY
Celebration is far more than a gathering of friends and family, balloons, and cake; it’s a spiritual discipline. Celebration is the fuel to get us through the dark days when the world isn’t as it should be. Celebration is knowing that God is moving through those tearing-down times with us, despite how we might feel. When everything around us seems to be falling apart, He is already preparing the building-up times.
Birthdays offer an opportunity to practice this spiritual discipline, to celebrate the gift of simply being alive and belonging to the family of God. They provide a chance for us to lift someone up, to celebrate the wonder of their presence among us, to say and hear: “Thank you for being! We are so glad you’re here. You are loved!”
Children look forward to birthdays (their big day!) with delight, eager for the moment when they are the center of love and attention. Birthdays invite us to hold on to that childlike wonder, to remember that what matters most is not what we do or achieve but that we are: here… now… and alive. On our birthday, we can be totally present, set aside the regrets and worries of the past, and anticipate a blessed future.
Having dear ones celebrate me even when I was a hot mess has stuck with me. Every birthday kindness fostered the year I turned 50 has rippled through the years. I wonder how our perspective would change if we carried this spirit into everyday life through kindness, gentleness, and grace—being grateful for the beautiful gift of life, and quietly whispering (and hearing God whisper): “It is good that you are alive, walking this earth. You are loved. Let us rejoice and be glad!”
INVITATION AND QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
- Even if you’ve never given thought to the idea that building up happens after tearing down, think back to those hard times in your life. What do you notice about God's care from the perspective of hindsight? Journal any ideas you want to explore as you prayerfully sit with God.
- Did you know that celebration is a spiritual discipline? No matter how you answer, have your thoughts about celebration changed? Could you use a lift in your spirit? What if spending time celebrating makes a difference on the hard days? If you need help getting started with celebrating, print out Celebrate the Little Things and enjoy it!
PRAYER
Dear Jesus, celebrating shouldn’t be hard, but too often, I get lost in my pain, loneliness, disappointment, hurt, and even anger. It feels like I live in a constant state of tearing down, yet I know that You promise You are with me. Help me lean into that promise, letting it envelop my spirit and spur hope. Help me see and celebrate the small gifts of joy that You place before my eyes, that I often miss. I want to see those precious moments, oh, how I want to see and celebrate! I need You, Lord! In Jesus’ name, amen.
Pamela Piquette
Executive Director and Co-Founder of Chronic Joy®
Pamela, a leader and a visionary following God's call to inspire those affected by chronic illness, mental illness, and chronic pain, believes that every precious life impacted by illness is both vital and purposed.
Pamela is a wife of more than 35 years, the mom of three married children, and a grandma of six. She is diagnosed with chronic migraines and other chronic conditions. She enjoys baking sourdough bread and chocolate chip cookies, drinking hot tea, being outdoors, and reading (almost always more than one book at a time).
Celebrate The Little Things
Celebration isn't reserved only for mountaintop moments, but is also valuable in marking ordinary moments—small wins, quiet mercies, tender flickers of joy. Even when progress feels like a pebble in our palm, we can choose to rejoice, trusting that God is present and worthy of praise in every moment we are given.
Thank you Pamela,
This devotional was very encouraging. Chronic joy has been a blessing to my life as I have faced chronic suffering over the last few years. Thanks for always pointing me to Jesus, and the Word of God; our only true hope. I am praying that God will bring you healing, grace, and peace today through the Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you, dear sister!
By His grace,
Joe S.
The paragraph on Celebrate the Little Things has deeply resonated with me. I am learning to do just that. Sadly, at 72, I no longer have many friends. Yet, the ones I do have, I treasure. Life has greatly changed. No sooner get on my feet again, boom—something else unexpected. Yes, small wins from now on. God bless you mightily.