Celebrate the Successes (Big or Small)

Just recently, we had a political and moral issue that came up on the ballot in our state and my family decided to take action. Choosing our side in the battle, our family decided to defend our choice through prayer, fasting, phone calls, prayer rallies, as well as educating those we know and those we encountered. We have always developed, in our family culture, the importance of working together on things like this, supporting each other, keeping God at the center of it, and having open discussions about what we were doing and why.

Unfortunately, after months of working to defeat the issue, the results went opposite the way we had hoped. It felt like a ‘gut punch’ to all of us. However, through the grace of God, a day before the vote, I told my wife that no matter the outcome, we were going to go out to eat as a family and celebrate. Hopefully celebrate a victory. But even more so, to celebrate the sacrificial gifts our family had made in doing the actions we believed was God’s will for us. So we did, and my wife and I made sure we told them how proud we were of them, and reminded them that no matter what, God was still in control.

We had a lot of laughs, a lot of good food, and a memory that will last a lifetime. Our hearts were broken by the decision of the world around us, but we were strengthened by the internal bond of our family. As my wife put our youngest child to bed that night, he said, “Thank you for taking us out to dinner. This whole experience has strengthened my faith in God even though we didn’t get what we hope for.” It was then that I saw the grace of God working in and through the gift of our family.

Life is not always fair. Our world is made up of broken people. Our families have their flaws. But God is greater than all of these and He cares for each one of us, and our struggles and tears do not go unnoticed by Him. When we, as a family, embrace God at the center of our lives, we can have great successes in what the world might deem insignificant ways. My day, that started off with despair and defeat, ended with one of the greatest ‘wins’ of my adult life. My advice? Let God help your family turn the struggles, big or small, into victories.

ACTION STEP: This week, celebrate the success in your life as a family.