Gladden the Hearts

Table Talk


Setting the Table

You are welcome here. Come just as you are, bringing whatever is on your heart today. Take a few moments and allow yourself to just be. Take a couple deep breaths, grab yourself a cup of coffee, light a candle, do something that brings you comfort. Allow yourself to be present in this moment. 

In a world that often rushes past joy, what if we made a practice of pausing to celebrate—confetti and all?

And then the day came.
when the risk
to remain tight
in a bud
was more painful
than the risk
it took
to blossom.
— Anaïs Nin, “Risk”

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. 
— Max Ehrmann

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 
For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to break down and a time to build up;
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance;



Food for Thought

There is something magical about confetti. My son’s birthday is New Year’s Day, and we often go to a New Year’s Eve concert as part of his birthday celebration. At midnight, as his birthday begins, confetti and balloons drop. The pictures I have of these moments are enchanting, full of the promise of a new year and the excitement of the birthday boy, covered in confetti. 

My friend Katie always has a bag of confetti with her in case of a confetti emergency. What if you have a huge success at work or some great personal news? You can make it a party! For the past several years, I have also carried confetti in my purse in case of good news that needs to be marked. I have tossed confetti when friends got new jobs, and when they shared that their families were growing, and at completing graduation requirements. When the book fair met its goal, I threw confetti on a parent who was volunteering with me. Confetti makes even the smallest news more joyful and worth celebrating.

In February 2020, I hosted a Galentine’s Day party and I gave each of my friends a baggie of confetti. I told them to use it when something good happened to them, and to think of me cheering them on. I told them I hoped they had a lot of things to celebrate in 2020. Well, we all know how that worked out. But there were things to celebrate in a difficult time, like the end of the online school year (thank God), and the reopening of our favorite restaurants. When I got my first COVID-19 vaccine, I cried in relief and handed the lady who gave me my shot a baggie of her own as a way to say thank you. Our celebrations were different in those years, but marking what brought us joy was an important reminder that, though things were difficult, we could still find delight. 

Since then, I have handed out more baggies of confetti than I can count, including this year at church on the Sunday after Easter, which we typically try to turn into a celebratory party. The Bible itself is not short on celebration. The book of Exodus tells us about Miriam leading the people in song and dance after the Israelites moved from enslavement to freedom. Was it appropriate for her to stop and celebrate at that moment? It might have been wiser to try to get to a more safe location before celebrating, but she was also modeling for the community the importance of acknowledging the joy in their freedom. King David similarly danced before God, demonstrating his joy at God’s holy words being returned to Jerusalem. He was called foolish for doing so, but it did not seem to affect his celebration. In Jesus’ life, we hear about many celebratory meals around tables with friends, and one of his most famous parables is about a father who extravagantly celebrated a lost son who was returned to him. What we learn from the scripture, then, is the truth of this quote from Henri-Frédéric Amiel: “Life is short. We don't have much time to gladden the hearts of those who walk this way with us. So, be swift to love and make haste to be kind.” Even in difficult times, let us not be afraid to share the joy that we find in our lives and in the lives of the people we love. 

To be sure, cleaning up confetti is less charming than throwing it, and I recommend, if possible, buying the biodegradable kind and taking the party outside, but I do recommend a ministry of confetti. Life is short, so make sure your friends and family know you are cheering them on. Life is short, so share your good news. Life is short, so maybe throw a little confetti when you can. 


Make yourself a small baggie of confetti (biodegradable, of course!) that you can carry in your car, purse, workbag, or pocket to celebrate good news when it arises.

The next time you have good news, consider inviting a friend to have coffee or dinner to actually celebrate instead of moving on from your joy. 


For a printable version of today's reflection Click Here!


Blessing

God who celebrates with us,
Thank you for the love you pour out on us like confetti. Though life is hard, help us not to be afraid to mark our joys with celebration. Thank you for being with us through it all.
Amen.


A little Table Talk for your table...

  • Does your family have any celebration rituals? 

  • Do you ever struggle to celebrate the good news of friends? Why do you think this is?

  • Can you think of a time when you wish you had celebrated more? How might you celebrate differently in the future?


Try taking it to the Kids Table...

  • Invite your kiddo to share a “good thing” from their day with you. 

  • Ask your child how it feels when something good happens and others join in the celebration. Then wonder together: “Why do you think it matters that we celebrate each other’s good news?”

  • Make a few small baggies of confetti (biodegradable, of course!) to keep in your bag or pocket—one for you, and some to share. And don’t forget: when there’s something to celebrate, toss a little confetti!

Meet This WEek’s Writer...

Kari Baumann is the Pastor to Children and Families at College Park Baptist Church in Greensboro, NC. A former school librarian, Kari is passionate about progressive faith education for children and incorporates picture books in her programming. She lives in Greensboro with her husband, an elementary school teacher, and her son, a middle schooler. She enjoys reading, walking in the local park, and attending concerts and live theater. Her most recent concert was Joy Oladokun.


To hear more from Kari throughout the week, follow along on our Instagram!

Kari Baumann