Celebration: Reflecting God’s Heart for His Children
The stomach bug had gobbled up all potential for birthday fanfare, so it wasn’t until days later that we were finally able to celebrate my husband. Our two older kids were ecstatic about the small surprises we’d arranged—bowling, dinner, ice cream cake—while our youngest, just two years old, didn’t quite grasp what was happening. Of course, that didn’t stop him from cheering and committing deeply to his red party hat. It was a hilarious, wonderful, and wild afternoon together.
Reflecting later that night, my husband and I decided one of the best parts of the celebration was the way our toddler looked at us as soon as he’d shoved the bowling ball down the plastic dinosaur ramp. Ignoring the wobbly orange ball, he’d fix his eyes on our faces to see if we’d cheer. Once we did, he’d jump up and down too, clapping and shouting an enthusiastic “Yay!”
The big kids were confused: “Why are we cheering if he didn’t knock over any pins?” My answer: “Because I love him so much!” When an adorable toddler bowls, what happens to the pins is irrelevant. We celebrate because the bowler is beloved.
I’ve been thinking about my youngest ever since, about that look—the look that asks, “Are you watching me? Do you see me?” And then something else: “Do you smile when you see me?” When we saw that look on his face, my husband and I responded with our whole bodies, as if his expression compelled all the love to shoot out of our eyes, arms, and mouths like laser beams: “Yes, we see you! You are wonderful!”
I’ve been thinking about the big kids ever since too—about how excited they were to be with their dad and celebrate him, how both of their teachers commented after school, “I hear you have a fun afternoon planned!” How that morning, big brother had shouted to little brother, “We’re taking Dad bowling today!” as big sister hissed, “Be quiet! Dad will hear!” Dad had heard, but pretended he didn’t. He smiled, the spoiled surprise making no difference to the joy.
I’ve been thinking about my husband ever since too. The celebration was designed for him, but he couldn’t help but celebrate his kids along the way. Joy kept multiplying.
I suppose it’s no coincidence, then, that alongside these wonderings, my mind has been swirling with passages about God and his children. When I hold up these passages alongside our birthday fun, I can see something surprising and lovely: That afternoon, we experienced a glimmer of the Father’s heart for celebration.
God’s Celebratory Words
When Jesus was baptized, he demonstrated his deep commitment to follow his Father, to obey the Father’s will with his whole heart. At the sight of it, God the Father simply would not conceal his joy. He proclaimed from heaven: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). At the transfiguration, when Jesus became radiant with God’s glory, a similar exclamation: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Matthew 17:5).
What a true delight to know that because of the work of Christ, these same celebratory words belong to all of God’s children![1] We could have never earned them, and yet, because of Jesus, our Father looks at us and says, “This is my beloved daughter! I am so pleased by her!”
It’s the kind of theological truth that puts a lump in my throat. I am just like my two-year-old, asking, “Do you see me? Do you smile when you see me?” And because of Christ, God’s love shoots out towards me like laser beams. I am celebrated—even though I don’t deserve it, even though I can’t obey like Jesus, even though I’m a really bad bowler. (In the words of my six-year-old, “I think bumpers will help you, Mom.”)
All of these failures simply cannot diminish the Father’s joy. Despite it all, our good Father speaks celebratory words over his children. What a gift!
God’s Celebratory Posture
The parable of the prodigal son reminds us that God offers more than just words of celebration, though. You remember the story: At his darkest moment, a son returns home in shame—knowing he chose the world over his father’s love, knowing he squandered all he’d been given, knowing it would be undeserved grace to merely be a servant, knowing it was utterly ridiculous to be restored as a son. While he’s a long way off, the father spots him. We expect the father to have arms crossed, brow furrowed, expression soured.
But the father is not like that. Instead, he runs—runs!—to his beloved son with open arms. The father responds to the son with his whole body, love shooting out like laser beams. All of the son’s failures simply cannot diminish the father’s joy of being together at last.
Imagine the son’s shock as, instead of receiving a harsh reprimand or at least a lecture, he becomes the celebrated guest at a party thrown in his honor. Because of Jesus, this is our story, too. Despite everything we’ve done, our good Father’s posture towards us is decidedly celebratory: he wraps us in his arms, makes us clean, clothes us in righteousness, offers us a feast that satisfies our souls and delights our taste buds, and grants us a seat at his table.
We Are Celebrated Daughters
Certainly, God’s celebratory words and posture impacts us as mothers, but first it must impact us as daughters. Can it actually be that we are the blessed and beloved children of a Father who loves a family celebration? The Scriptures confirm that this is true! God celebrates holiness (see Nehemiah 8 for another delightful example of this), and we are made holy and righteous because of Jesus!
As we walk in step with the Holy Spirit, we are shaped more and more into our Father’s image, and this righteousness is cause for celebration too. Consider this: Although the birthday celebration wasn’t for my big kids, their excitement was proof that it might as well have been. They were delighted to be near their father and share in his celebration, following his lead in all things. The Spirit produces in us a similar thing. We are near our Father, and he shares his joy. Is it any wonder that one of the flavors of the fruit of the Spirit is joy?
This is some truth to celebrate: God the Father created celebration, God the Son invites us and makes the way to true celebration, and God the Spirit produces celebration in us through a joy that grows where it seems impossible.
Celebration is inherently unserious, yet the serious believer can meditate on God’s very nature and see: Celebration is part of who he is and part of what he’s entrusted to us as his image bearers!
We Can Be Celebrating Mothers
Armed with the good news of the gospel, we can live as celebrated daughters who bear God’s image as celebrating mothers. We can use what Tim Keller calls our “gospel imagination” to envision ways to point our children to God. As an act of delighted overflow, we can thoughtfully show them the God who invented celebration and does not make his children earn it, who celebrates righteousness, who produces joy in us, and who rejoices in his children’s presence.
As Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us, there’s a time for everything—so when it's time for laughing and dancing and embracing, let’s do it with our whole hearts. After all, we are the celebrated daughters of a celebrating Father! The best news in the world belongs to us—and we can share this good news with the effusive joy of a confetti cannon.
[1] 2 Corinthians 5:21
Reflection Questions:
Celebration can feel like an un-serious, indulgent thing. Why is that? Why might it actually be seriously important?
When you think about God looking at you, what does his expression look like? Is this consistent with the message of the Bible?
What chunks of time in your week seem stressful, mundane, or devoid of joy? Can you use your gospel imagination to find a way to experience joy there anyway?
Think back to some of your favorite celebrations you’ve enjoyed. Do any seem to offer a glimmer of the Father’s heart? How so?
Application Ideas:
Consider when your kids expect your arms to be crossed. How can you surprise them with grace and celebration instead?
Practice celebrating your kids in small, everyday ways. Greet them with delight in the morning, smile when they draw near to you on the couch, cheer when they know the words to your favorite songs, laugh when they make up a new joke, and affirm them to others: “This is my beloved daughter, in whom I am well pleased!”
Consciously associate righteousness with celebration. When you see your kids obey or demonstrate fruit of the Spirit (like patience, kindness, or self control), squeal with delight, “You’re growing on the inside!”
Invest in your kids’ gospel imaginations by pointing them to celebrate others, setting aside your own time and energy to help them do so. When they want to make bracelets or some other craft, help them also make one to bless someone else. When a friend is having a birthday, invite them to make the card or decorate the gift bag.
Look for days that lack joy and use your gospel imagination to enjoy it anyway. (For example, my kids used to hate Tuesdays, so we started having a cookie for snack that day and called it Cookie Tuesday. It’s been surprisingly redemptive!)
