With every end and new beginning of the annual budget cycle, we usher in a new year of fresh goals. Hopefully, filled with excitement, we dive into implementing strategies and working toward new achievements. Along the way, there’s a question we should consider: How do we celebrate the wins when we reach these goals? Do we just check them off and say they’re done? Do we celebrate the planning process and the team that makes it happen? How do we celebrate juggling ministry, personal life, and family?

Perhaps the better question is this: What does it mean to walk in celebration every day? Walking in celebration is more than just feeling excited. It’s about living each day with faith and joy because we have life in Jesus. He gives us a reason to celebrate daily. We celebrate God’s goodness because He is the essence of good. Goodness is woven into His very nature, revealed to us through acts of mercy, compassion, and patience. His goodness is a form of grace, freely given. God’s goodness is profound, constant, and unchanging—beyond what we can fully comprehend.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.” — Psalm 136:1 (NIV)

We celebrate God’s goodness in our homes, in the way we raise our children, and in how we interact with those around us. We celebrate with hearts of gratitude and thanksgiving because we are walking, talking sons and daughters of the King of Kings!

What Do We Celebrate?

Every family treasures milestone moments—births, first steps, first Christmases, and major holidays. Our phones and cameras overflow with pictures capturing the first day of school, graduations, and anniversaries. These big moments are worth celebrating. But what about the “ordinary days”? Between those milestones are countless moments when we’re simply living life, waiting for the next celebration to arrive.

What if we taught our children—and ourselves—to celebrate every day? To wake up with joy, living with the knowledge of who we are and to whom we belong. Imagine the ripple effect of adopting a mindset of daily celebration! By recognizing God’s goodness in the mundane, we can model a life of gratitude and joy to our families and teams.

Can We Celebrate Disappointments?

Have you ever meticulously planned an event, only for things to go completely off-script? You end the day cleaning up a disaster, feeling let down because the reality didn’t match your expectations.

I’ve been there. I used to over-plan with an attitude of perfection instead of celebration. I attempted to create flawless celebrations. But when setbacks occurred—whether small disruptions or major disappointments—my frustration affected everyone around me. I realized I had made these events more about the plans than the people. Connection is always more important than confetti!

Live in Celebration

Living in celebration means embracing each day with gratitude and striving to reflect Jesus in our words and actions. It’s about choosing joy even when challenges arise. Let’s teach our children and teams how to combat negativity with kindness and show them the power of a smile or a contagious laugh.

This celebration mindset helps us focus on blessings instead of setbacks. We celebrate victories instead of dwelling on losses. We celebrate in the moment with the people we love, with gratitude. I encourage you to start a family or team tradition: create a running list of things you’re thankful for. This simple practice serves as a constant reminder to walk in celebration every day.

A Daily Core Value Statement

Here’s a core value statement to adopt for yourself, your family, or your team:

We are the [Name]. We celebrate God’s goodness every day. We walk in celebration of who we are! We are children of God! He loves us and never leaves us. In this family (or team), we celebrate both the big and small milestones. We live with gratitude and thankfulness. We won’t let mistakes or bad attitudes rob us of our identity. We live life in celebration!

A Lifestyle of Celebration

Celebrating God’s goodness transforms not only our own lives but also the lives of those around us. Walking in celebration is more than an attitude—it’s a lifestyle. Let’s teach our families, teams, and communities to embrace this way of living. Together, we can spread joy, share gratitude, and find contentment in all things.

Tish Striegel has served in Children's Ministry for over 25 years and is currently the Children's Pastor at Hill City Church in Southern Indiana, a suburb of Louisville, KY. She graduated from the inaugural KidMin Academy class in 2016. Tish is the author of four books: My Journey to Wholeness, Truth About Baby, The Truth About Me, and The Truth About Me: Preteen Edition. She is passionate about children’s and family ministry and loves good coffee, writing, and helping others realize their potential. She and her husband, Tim, have been married for 30 years, raised three children, and are currently enjoying being grandparents to eight grandchildren.