As I thought about the topic for this blog I began to reflect on the past 12 months. Seems like it was such a short time ago that we were on the way to Iowa to meet Urijah on the day he was born(evening to be exact).In 12 short months we have already begun to celebrate the milestones in his life.
"Milestone" (def) 1. A stone functioning as a milepost
2. A significant event or point in development
Over the past 12 months, we have celebrated the day of his birth, his Parent-Child dedication and now his first birthday.These are just the major milestones. We have also celebrated his first solid food to eat, his first tooth, his first time to rollover, his first time to crawl, his first time to pull himself up, attending his first softball game to watch his dad (yes he was only about 2 weeks old at the time), attending his first minor league baseball game(yes he was only 2 months old then), his first 4th of July, attending his first hockey game, his first Christmas, his first Easter, his first swimming lesson. All of these "significant events or points of development" are important to whom? Do you really care when Urijah ate his first solid food, ate his first birthday cake or had his first swimming lesson? I am guessing probably not. But I know his mom and dad did. I, his grandpa did. I know his grandma Monica did. We were excited and clapped for joy and had to take pictures of this little baby boy eating solid baby food for the first time.Yayyyy Urijah!!!
You may or may not even care about the bigger milestones of Urijah's baby dedication at church or his first birthday celebration, but guess who does? His family. His mom, his dad, his grandparents, his aunts and uncles.Milestones by definition, "a significant event or point of development", should be most important to those who place a high value on the person who is involved, as well as, the "significance of the event".
Here is my favorite question: What's your point?
Are milestones important in your family? Do you make a big deal out of "significant events or points of development" in your marriage, your sons, your daughters, your grandsons and granddaughters lives? Once again, do you want a picture of Urijah eating his first solid food, or eating his first birthday cake? Of course not, but if it was your son or grandson you would. Who should those "milestones" matter to most? If not your own family, who will it matter to? Celebrating them shows the person you are celebrating with how much you value them. Who doesn't want to feel valued? What does that do for your children? It makes them feel loved. It gives them confidence, it shows them that someone cares, really cares, about them.Yes, there are many ways you can show loved ones how much you care about them, but at those special times of life, those "significant events", to go above and beyond at those times are what I am talking about.
Today our Early Learning Center is having a graduation ceremony for the kids who have "aged out" of the program. Sunday we are celebrating Mothers Day and Parent-Child Dedications, last Sunday we celebrated a "Rite Of Passage" event, as junior and senior high school teenagers are celebrating adulthood. This Sunday afternoon we will be hosting Bixby High School Baccalaureate Ceremony, soon we will be celebrating our Senior High School class graduating from high school.
At New Beginnings, through our NB Families ministry, we are being intentional about celebrating milestones, "significant events or points of development". We are encouraging you to make them a priority in your families in such a way, that your spouse, your children and your grandchildren will remember them for the rest of their lives.You will be amazed at how God will work through those small investments of your time, that provide unforgettable moments, that will shape the future of your loved ones.
Terry Langenberg
Twitter: TheLangenberg
Facebook: TheLangenberg
Thanks for sharing Terry!!
ReplyDeletePS - is there any of that turtle cake left?