GRATITUDE & JOY
Good Morning and welcome to a new week!!! Hope your weekend has been going well. Friday, my daughter got married and honestly, I have not physically felt better in months. So grateful for that. Have 3 weeks of radiation and chemotherapy done, had my hair and the wedding was amazing! Wouldn’t and couldn’t have happened without the amazing support, and help we received. Several thoughts about that, but let me focus on one thought this morning.
There is a fascinating story in the Gospels. Let me use John. One of the first miracles we see Jesus do is “turn water to wine!” This is John 2. So the master of the banquet taste this wine that Jesus created from water. He does not realize where it comes from and he calls the bridegroom aside and says this. “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. John 2: 10-11
There is so many different directions I could take here, but I really only want to make one point. Jesus did some things that seemed to be out of context or not religious. That’s interesting to me and can be broken down several ways. One way that I have grown comfortable with over the years is Jesus seemed to find very simple practical ways to connect with people, to help them grasp a bigger understanding of God and his love.
So I am not totally staying on one idea. One more quick thought. I am not a big fan of alcohol, wine, beer whatever. My body has never responded to it well. I have not been under the influence of alcohol in over 34 years. I don’t like that feeling. To have my self-awareness, mindset and focus have been important to me. But again what if “wine” in certain occasions is actually one way to celebrate a special occasion? So back to weddings.
So wine at a wedding does represent a way to celebrate what is happening. Jesus really did seem to be good with that. Some people want to say, “but this wine didn’t have much alcohol, so it was really not wine.” Scripture gives us plenty of examples of people being intoxicated by alcohol, so that idea doesn’t work very well for me.
Why I am really sharing this idea is that weddings are unique and they, I believe were designed to be a very special celebration. Family and friends in different ways, celebrate, support, love on and help a couple start their life together.
That is exactly what I experienced Friday. It was such a beautiful celebration and it happened because of so many friends and family. For the day my focus was not on my brain tumor, it was on my beautiful daughter, Madison and Cole starting their life together.
My daughter is one of the most remarkable young women on the planet. She is an amazing young women, talented, intelligent, caring and has a strong faith. That matters, but that is not why I love her so much. I love her so much simply because, she is my “little girl.”
I don’t know how much longer I am going to be physically around. Hoping for as long as possible. This wedding was another reminder of so many special events I have been able to be a part of in my life. There was a time when I minimized or failed to acknowledge how important certain events and relationships actually matter. That has changed over the years.
So let me encourage you! You have opportunities ever day in different ways to celebrate and embrace life. That in no way means you are void of some very real challenges as well. Find simple ways to be present with family and friends. Find simple ways to love on someone and yourself in healthy ways. You matter and your life matters.
I am wishing Cole and Madison a beautiful and happy marriage. They will have challenges, every marriage does, but they will do well.
I am so grateful I got to celebrate and be a small part of my sweet girls wedding!!!! Madison, I love you and could not be more proud of who you have become and will continue to be.
Peace,