R.A.D.I.C.A.L. Thoughts

"Celebration is a way of giving. God encourages heartfelt celebration. We get the erroneous feeling that God wants to take the fun out of life. He is really just the opposite. God wants to give us life in its fullness. The God of the Bible encourages joy!" - Handbook of Bible Application by Neil S. Wilson and Bruce B. Barton

Celebrations are good for us. All religions have times of solemn reflection and meditation, but they also have festivals and the worship of celebration. Think about it ... you still have lots of things to celebrate. But when you are going through a divorce, you usually don't feel like celebrating. Sometimes that's exactly the time you should celebrate. You may not be ready for a big party, but then again, a big party may be just the thing you need. I remember one of the first years after our divorce, I decided to go ahead and have a party around the holidays. We had always had a big Christmas party when I was married, and I still wanted to have one. Plus we asked everyone to bring a toy for a needy girl or boy and I wanted to spread that cheer around again as well. I invited old friends I wanted to keep in contact with. I invited neighbors from my old neighborhood. I invited all the neighbors from the block that I just moved onto. (No, I didn't know them, but when I gave them the invitation, I said I wanted to get to know them!) I invited book club friends, my son's swim team friends. I just wanted to tell people that I was still alive and that I was going to be fine in spite of the dumb choices my ex-husband had made. Plus I just wanted a party. Below I am giving you an idea for a party invitation. Try it. Do it. Invite as many people as you want to. The best parties are short, (say 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. or 7 - 9) and simple. And too crowded. (I remember one year we had just moved into a new house and had absolutely no furniture in the living room ... I put on the invitation that now that we had the house we couldn't afford the furniture and if they wanted to do any extended sitting to bring their own folding chair!) People like to know you aren't perfect, that your life isn't perfect, that your house isn't perfect ... but that you are going to enjoy it anyway. Have your kids invite some of their friends. Be relaxed. Ask some people to bring something to nibble on or a bottle of wine if you want. Serve cranberry juice and champagne ... people can pick how much or how little of each thing they want. Just remember that you have lots to celebrate. And as a side benefit, it will do your ex-husband good, too, to know that you are going to be just fine.

We’re Celebrating

Christmas
Other Holidays
Old Friends
New Neighbors
Goals Accomplished
Dreams Yet to Be Fulfilled
Victories
Things We Learned from Defeats
The Coming New Year
Anything Else You Want to Celebrate


Join Us for a Party
(Date)
(Place)

{Nothing fancy}
Just Cranberry Juice & Champagne
Maybe an Ale or two & Some Cider
And a Cheese Tray or Something

But bring an unwrapped toy
for a needy girl or boy if you would like

Holiday Casual
(come as you are from work or play)
We can’t wait to see you!

Your name - Your kids names
Regrets or Lost (your phone number)

“The Lord said to Moses, “Give the Israelites instructions regarding the Lord’s appointed festivals, the days when all of you will be summoned to worship me.” Leviticus 23:1-2