When was the last time you celebrated a friend or family member? I don’t mean birthdays or anniversaries or stuff like that. I mean a real achievement/s. I did just that this past Sunday.

A real good friend of mine at my Church was selected Parishioner of the Year. This is something our Diocese has been doing for years. Each parish selects a parishioner who has given much time and help to their parish, usually over a number of years. You know, those people that just get things done for an organization no matter what…because it needs to be done or it would be a nice/appropriate touch for the building/community etc.

My friend has done so many things for the Church…on the Parish Council, President of the Ladies Guild. She’s a retired school principal and a well-regarded one, teaches Sunday School and Greek School (it’s a Greek Orthodox Church). She also has her Certificate in Piano and has taught piano in the past. There is a LOT packed into that 5 ft. friend of mine.

The banquet itself is 4 hours long. Oy vey! There were probably 800+ people there celebrating the almost 62 recipients of the Laity Awards. And everyone was having such a good time! Great food, perfect waitstaff, people from other churches you haven’t seen in a long time…in short a huge huge good time celebrating the Church and those who tirelessly help make the individual parishes run.

And of course there are the speeches (and…more speeches…and um…) but we get through those too. And the pinnacle really comes at the end of the 4 hour banquet…when the Archbishop of the Diocese hands out the awards. It’s so uproarious in the hall with each parish really hooting and hollering and applauding for their own parishioner! Every recipient feels the energy in the crowd. It’s contagious! It’s glorious!

And that’s how I celebrated my friend. Hooting and hollering with everyone else…letting our hair down.

We all love our family and friends. I play organ at weddings at my Church. You should hear the hooting and hollering at the end of the wedding ceremony when the newly married couple walks down the aisle. The family and friends are deafening. Just like the 800+ people at the Laity Awards banquet from the Diocese. We are celebrating our family and friends because they have achieved something that has made them move forward, made us move forward, helped others, and are just great people.

I personally was so happy to celebrate my friend on Sunday because she was one of the ladies that helped me so much after my recent back surgery. She and about 6 other women just stepped up to the plate and made my moments after surgery (in rehab and then at home) so much easier and happier for me. I’ll always be grateful!

So. I’ll bet you are really psyched now that you read this wonderful story about celebrating people in our lives (hopefully not asleep ha!). But think about it…when was the last time you really celebrated something a good friend or a family member accomplished just because that is what they do? Perhaps you can think of something right now. Maybe you can have a celebration of sorts for them…albeit not 800+ people but… Take them to breakfast or a nice dinner. Or maybe there is something they really like to do…do that! Or…flowers?

We need to tap into that part of humanity and celebrate our good honest hard work. It helps us realize that humanity is good after all. People do step up and do what needs to be done in order to help others or organizations like our churches, which really need the support and help from its people.

You can think of something. I have faith in you. Polish up your hooting and hollering skills cuz you’re gonna need them sooner than you think! Invite me too…I’ll hoot and holler with you! Ha! great stuff!!!!

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