Reflect

In the beautiful children’s book I’m in Charge of Celebrations, written by Byrd Taylor and illustrated by Peter Parnall, a young woman in the desert of the American Southwest creates celebrations to express her delight in the miracles all around her. The day she and a jackrabbit stand watching a triple rainbow over a canyon?: That’s called “Rainbow Celebration Day!” The summer nights with an abundance of stars?: “The Time of Falling Stars,” of course! “Every time a streak of light goes shooting through the darkness,” she shares, “ I feel my heart shoot out of me.” The book is a gorgeous reminder (not just to kids but to the adults reading it to them!) that when we slow down and take a good look around, the opportunities to celebrate extend far beyond birthdays or anniversaries, cake and presents. A celebration is not only about joy, it’s about honoring and amplifying and remembering. It’s about the heart letting down its shield and delighting in the gifts that are offered.