Surrender Series: Surrender Through Celebration

Nicole Joseph-Chin

It is the day after my birthday and I am moved to share how deeply my surrender game goes and the role it plays, and has played, in celebrations.

I am usually asked the popular birthday question: ‘what are you doing for your birthday?’. And for me, each year, it might sound like a cop out when I say: “I have no plans” and in fact, I truly have NO plans.

In the past years, as my surrender is crafted and refined, I am placed at that exciting moment of letting God have His way even in major dates and milestone moments.

And yes, I may have a desire, but do I even pursue it as part of my celebration? And the answer is a resounding NO.

So, as I let go and let God, this year, the one certain plan on my schedule is morning Mass.

My celebrations always start with that celebration of faith and focus, and I usually attend and celebrate Mass wherever my birthday finds me.

But after Mass, that is usually when the other surrender begins and whatever is His will, that will be done.

Does this bring me a sense of peace? Absolutely because I am not pinned to any schedules that might induce anxiety and make for expectations that might also lead to disappointments.

So, in the spirit of true surrender, here is how my birthday went yesterday.

• Morning Mass and an invitation to have breakfast with Father and our parish community.
• Second and very spontaneous breakfast with a friend who made a delicious quiche to share during my pedicure.
• Stopped at a friend’s office to give her a spontaneous hug.
• Went grocery shopping to prepare a meal to deliver to a friend, for the coming weekend.
• Decided to visit my neighbourhood Health-Centre for a check-up and to do a surprise cake delivery to celebrate them.
• Graciously declining an invitation to go out for lunch and instead using the time and resources to purchase and donate school supplies for a class, to a friend who teaches in an underserved area.
• Accepting a spontaneous invitation to have drinks, closer to the end of the day, from my former manager.

And this full celebration in the face of surrender allowed me to feel a sense of calm, peace and joy.

This day reminded me of Proverbs 13:12 as I turned any anticipated celebrations into my very own form of celebration and punctuated it with my ability to celebrate in many ways and for an entire season. Never sacrificing my inner joy or the temptation to burn myself out in the spirit of perceived ‘rules’ of celebration. I have a new year ahead of me and a celebration with each new day.

Are you ready to choose surrender inside of a major celebration?

Nicole Joseph-Chin is the author of Ready to Surrender – “A pocketbook of peace, power and purpose”

Photo by Aditya Saxena on Unsplash