Celebration, it seems like a natural part of life.  We celebrate the birth of babies as well as people’s anniversaries and accomplishments.  So why has it been so difficult for me to celebrate my own accomplishment of writing a book.  My husband Mike and I had a book release party last night for “What Women Tell Me: Finding Freedom From the Secrets We Keep”.  I’ve worked hard writing the book and I’m now working hard promoting the book, so why can’t I work hard celebrating the book?  Last night I DID!!

 I wasn’t going to have a book release party until people came up to me in shocked horror and said, “You have to have a celebration! We are proud of you and want to help you celebrate.”  I finally realized, as I told my fellow Redbud Writers Guild member Helen Lee(soon to release her book “The Missional Mom”) at my party, that a celebration is as much for other people as it is for you. 

I looked around the room at those attending, and my eyes were filled with tears of gratitude at being surrounded by friends and supporters who would take a night out of their busy lives to help me celebrate.  It was a bit overwhelming to look across the room at my friends Tom and Claudine who opened their home to host this event.  I understood in that moment that it is much easier to give love than to receive it, and I needed to open my heart and hands and receive the love and support freely given in my direction.  

I heard over and over, “We are proud of you and are thrilled to be here for this moment!”  In the end I saw that God isn’t just moving through the content of the book, but even through the celebration of launching the book.  I’m thankful that I could finally embrace and enjoy the moment.

Posted by Anita Lustrea  |   3 Comments »