CELEBRATIONS—WHAT DO YOURS LOOK LIKE?

November 4, 2025

Now we usher in a time for special celebrations: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s. We also look back at celebrations with family and friends.

I am interested in your family’s traditions. Perhaps you must make new traditions. My parents always drove from Georgia to Missouri/Kansas to celebrate Thanksgiving with my three brothers and me and our families. Those days are over since they have gone to be with the Lord, and their celebration is far superior to ours! You may have family members that are no longer here and that requires re-thinking what your celebration looks like.

I thought of some meaningful times in the past and listed a few of them.

We lived in Shawnee, Oklahoma, before moving to Topeka. We loved our neighborhood. One day, our neighbor, Jane Ramsey, came over with a cake called “Just Wonderful Cake” as a celebration of our being neighbors! The cake was just one of many neighborhood memories.

Ron Zastrow was our neighbor here in Topeka, a renowned scenographer—costumes-scenery-lighting. He chose to retire here, and we didn’t have him here long enough. After his passing, a special time of remembrance and celebration of his life was held. As we left, packets of flower seeds were there for us to take home. I threw out my seeds this past summer, not knowing what to expect. Ron must have been sending some extra love and care because they grew to be tall and beautiful. The butterflies loved them as well. What a great way to remember him!

Rebecca stayed at a neighbor’s home while Don and I went to a Christmas event when we lived in Kentucky. Our neighbor captured this picture and suggested I use it on a Christmas card—and indeed I did!

I celebrated Christmas for many years by running in the Rescue Run, a benefit for the Rescue Mission. It was held downtown the Saturday after Thanksgiving and included the lighting of the Christmas Tree on Kansas Avenue. This is one of my favorite photos from the race because I was passing up a much younger runner. Those were the days . . .

At the present, I am aware that there are those who are suffering from the need for their “daily bread.” We are at a time in which, as we plan our Thanksgiving meals, we need to be cognizant of those who are concerned as to where their next meal is coming from. I had a visit with a friend last week and became aware of her need as we visited. After I got home, I thought a lot about what I could do.

A favorite verse of mine says: “Every man as he purposeth in his heart so let him give, not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

To me it says we do just that—consider the need, give careful thought to what is the appropriate response, and give cheerfully! I returned the next day with a gift card, and she celebrated receiving the gift. There are many ways we can provide for others at this time.

Another consideration at this time of celebration is the grief that people feel from loss. The holidays often accentuate grief. I’ve been there. I encourage you, if you feel the need for support, to consider these opportunities:

GriefShare,

DivorceCare,

and NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)—Family-to-Family workshop for those with a family member who has mental illness—and other groups as well.

I have been blessed by all these support groups.

Toward the end of his ministry, my father, at Christmastime, made little cakes and visited people in his congregation who had experienced a loss that year. Cakes were not his forte—fried catfish and hushpuppies were his specialties. He probably made the cakes without a recipe, which was his way of cooking.

I remind myself that I can celebrate each day that God gives me. Today, as I drove, I noticed the trees changing colors and the blue sky. I thanked God for the moment. Each moment is a gift.

picture from last week’s run when there was fog

I thought I was at the end of my blog, but I was wrong.

I uncovered a book that was given to me by my dad. When I visited my parents in Georgia each summer, my dad and I would sit and talk in his study. He had transformed a child’s playhouse into a study.

He would often pass on a book to me, and this is one that I cherish—not only for the content, but also for the cover.

This is the artist’s depiction of the ultimate celebration, the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. God gave John a revelation of what is yet to come. John was a prisoner for his faith on the island of Patmos when Jesus appeared to him. The book of Revelation is a fascinating—and challenging—book. But it is one to be studied so we can know what is to come.

Here is the scripture from which the artist gets his inspiration:

“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

‘Hallelujah!

For the Lord our God

the Almighty reigns

Let us rejoice and exult

and give him the glory,

for the marriage of the Lamb has come,

and his Bride has made herself ready.”

This is something to celebrate! The picture represents Christ and His “bride” (the church) at a joyous celebration in heaven.

What better conclusion than Handel’s ‘Hallelujah!’ Chorus!