My Loose-Tooth Birthday

Yesterday I was at work in the middle of writing a new blog entry about The Lion King when my 1:30pm appointment arrived. Uncle Ken (musician extraordinaire, pastor and mentor) walked into my office with his son Pono. Last time I saw Pono he ran up to me with a couple of friendly caterpillars hanging off of his shirt while yelling, “Aunty Kanani, come play with my bugs!!” This expressive little 8yr old always brings a smile to my face and today was no exception.

“Aunty, Aunty, Aunty, tomrphmhr----“ He stuck two fingers into his mouth and continued what I think was a lengthily explanation.

“What?” I grinned at him, “Pono I can’t understand you with your fingers in your mouth!”

“Todayismyloosetoothbirthday.” Pono opened his mouth real wide, waggled his baby tooth with his tongue, and explained to me how he had woken up this morning and found his first EVER loose tooth. He then proceeded to wiggle it victoriously and maintain a garbled running commentary dialoguing his excitement.

For the last two hours after my meeting the only thing that I was able to think about was Pono’s “Loose-Tooth Birthday.” I mean really, I like celebrating. I happily celebrate my birthday, Easter, Christmas, the big holidays, the state holidays, the federal holidays, and even the little random ones that give me the day off from work. But I have never before celebrated a “Loose-Tooth Birthday.”

Children have a way of approaching life as though every day is a celebration. Every little event, ever single milestone, however small, is worth thanking God for. And not JUST thanking Him, but actually jumping up and down in joyful celebration. There are days (sometimes, weeks and months) when I forget that.

I attended a One Love Ministries women’s retreat last year where the theme was “Child-like Faith.” The Lord recognizes the heartfelt innocence of children and encourages us to model our hearts after them and “become like little children.” (Matthew 18:3) Children are not afraid to speak the truth in any circumstance; their world views are not shaped by a need to be politically correct or by hidden agenda’s. We’ve all seen those AT&T commercials... It’s not complicated!

Pono has inspired my challenge for all of you for the month of February. Every single day should be a celebration and a day of thanksgiving. Every. Single. Day. Friends, I challenge all of you to find something that you want to give thanks for every day this month and celebrate it unapologetically. Celebrate it privately, give thanks in prayer, celebrate it publicly, throw a party with friends, go to dinner with family, do whatever you need to do, just CELEBRATE it. You deserve it!

So although I don’t have any loose teeth to celebrate this morning, I can and will declare today “Soup-for-lunch Day!” And I will celebrate my thankfulness that on this cold and rainy Wednesday God has provided me with some delicious, hot, ramen for lunch.

What are you celebrating today?

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“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.’” (Matthew 21:16)