" 'But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”  - Luke 15:32 (NIV)

Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, retirements... and the list of reasons to celebrate can continue. We are ready to celebrate over almost anything that comes along. Our family will celebrate the day before, on the day and the day after, just to be certain that we did it right. Over time we just celebrate to celebrate and the reasons grow less and less. Have we lost the sense of what's really important and worthy of celebration? In the words of a recent film Hitch, "Life is not the amount of breaths you take, it's the moments that take your breath away."

Jesus tells a story that contrasts all the achievements and values of life with one great moment. That moment is the redemption of a lost soul. The father doesn't give a stern reproof or wisdom for future temptations on that day. He rejoices and leads the entire family in a huge time of celebration. His son was dead and is alive again. Every time I read "...he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him" (vs. 20), I am deeply moved. You see, the return of a soul to our Heavenly Father is worth celebrating because... it's a moment that takes your breath away!

The question I have for you today is: what have you celebrated of spiritual worth lately? When that little child or older neighbor trusted Christ last month, did you celebrate their new birth? Do we teach our children that moments of spiritual change and growth are tremendous occasions of joy? Consider a father, filled with compassion, embracing his wayward son, and remember... "Life is not the amount of breaths you take, it's the moments that take your breath away."