The Need For Celebration

“DO you have a party I can come to?” she asked.

She needed a place for celebration, for enjoyment, for fun.

There had been little place for that in the dictatorship she had come from.

So I invited her to a party at the Centre. Two parties in fact.

One party I made especially for her, because I knew that she needed it: needed to be loved.

He wanted good news to be given to the poor. But can we cope with a Saviour who is so good that He lavishes His grace and His gifts on those He welcomes into His kingdom?

I made her a little party with presents, food, joy, and it was worth it to see the beginnings of an understanding of the extravagant grace of God in her smiling face.

She taught me that there is a need to celebrate in all of us, and as we have found something really worth celebrating, the followers of Jesus must be best of all.

After all, we are invited to the ultimate celebration and we want to extend the guest list.

Our understanding of persevering faith should never exclude the presence of joy.

- Reflections on a conversation class, December 2014 (Sue Withers)