It's A Jubilee For Me!

It’s A Jubilee For Me!

Everybody likes to be a part of a celebration. We enjoy birthdays, retirements, job promotions, remembrances, anniversaries, and new births. In my family we celebrate real specials things like hang nails and potty training a toddler!

These special times encourage us to pay tribute to, honor, remember, and celebrate accomplishments. It also give us an opportunity to dust off our best clothes (or not!) and buy extraordinary and sometimes useless gifts. However, we use these occasions to say congratulations, a job well done, pray together or share a See’s sucker or cigar (if you’re too young to know we used to give cigars to men and See’s suckers to women and children when a baby was born – gee whiz – now we get a text – hopefully with a picture attached).

Sometimes it’s a long time between these social events. Why? One might be quick to suggest that well, it’s expensive to put on a good “shin dig” (hello – “shin dig” is a party, bash, jamboree, get-together – isn’t it fun? – you get a lesson on expanding your vocabulary). Perhaps, more to the point, it’s the lack of value and importance we place on the people in our lives and the mundane way we’ve chosen to live out each day.

All families are different when it comes to visiting with each other or sharing a meal. It used to be that families were all home for dinner, there was no television to entertain, everyone was cleaned up and dinner conversation was appropriate for all ages. However, now, we are eating on-the-go, at the kitchen counter, the television is turned up, and the family is well, scattered about.

Notice that it takes a grand event to get us to step up our game. At grandma and grandpa’s 50th golden anniversary everyone is all “decked out” (dressed up-ha! did you know that one?), sitting together and sharing a meal in celebration of a milestone event.

Something very interesting happens when we are gathered at such an event. It becomes a joyous commemoration of love. We put our best forward, tell of the good things in life, share and make new memories, and give compliments to Aunt Mary and Grandpa Chato. For some reason we are able to put the life that sometimes “sucks” (to draw liquid out of something with the mouth – why do we use that word?) into the closet for a short while, and forget it’s even there, that is, until tomorrow.

What’s my point? Come on now, you know I have one. My point - put that life “of poor quality” (below an acceptable standard in quality or performance) permanently in the closet. Have a change of attitude and a change of heart. Don’t let your circumstances drain you of your great spirit and rob you of the joyous life you deserve. Hey, it is what it is! Some things we can do something about, and some things are simply out of our control. Whatever! You are not alone. There is a whole bunch of us sprinkled about all around the world in the same sinking (or stinking) boat. Make a decision. Are you going to sink or swim? Everyday you have a choice to put on a happy face or a frown. Everyday you can put your best attitude forward or you can be a sourpuss (somebody regarded as gloomy or bad-tempered). You are exceptional and unique and so are the people in your life! Make everyday distinctive and extraordinary!

Since you are receiving lessons so easily today, let’s talk about a time recorded in the Old Testament (don’t you love it!). Once every fifty years, the Jewish people would celebrate the Year of Jubilee. During the Year of Jubilee, all debt was forgiven, prisoners were set free, and land that had been repossessed was returned to its' original owner. Wow, would we be in heaven today!

Question – Why couldn’t you have your jubilee today? Set free what keeps you prisoner in your miserable set of circumstances. Make a job change and stop complaining about the one you have, or better yet, thank God you have a job. Get rid of extra expenses that set you back each month (personally, cable is over-rated). We can only have so many pairs of shoes and purses (right ladies?). Guys you don’t need every new silly gadget that comes out on the market, okay? Pull away from those who bring you down, surround yourself with positive people who will lift you up. Stop fighting it man, marry the girl, she’s good for you! Don’t worry the guys will only razz (tease, harass, torment, goad, egg on) you for a while!

Celebrate the little things often. If you can’t find something, make it up (I don’t know choose to celebrate the fact that he ONLY left 3 soda cans on the table today – while she ONLY complained 3 times about the program he decided to watch). Life is special, it is short and it is meant for you to enjoy! Why wait for something extravagant, your jubilee (celebration) is now!



Inspired by:

Leviticus 25:10 And thou shalt sanctify the fiftieth year, and shalt proclaim remission to all the inhabitants of thy land: for it is the year of jubilee. Every man shall return to his possession, and every one shall go back to his former family.

"Remission"... That is, a general release and discharge from debts and bondage, and a reinstating of every man in his former possessions.


Jesus came to set us free from our bondage. Take his beautiful gift and use it. Fight the evil temptations of life with your sword of words “what would Jesus do with my circumstance” and move closer to God’s favor and you will experience the Jubilee intended for you.