Happy spring greetings to you! We are really in the full swing of spring with lots of beautiful weather out there! With time going by so quickly, as we always say, it got me thinking this week about special “times” and dates that we remember and celebrate on our calendars each year. They are important to us as individuals, and some to us collectively. It brings to mind an important question: what’s in a date, and how should we remember and celebrate it?

In today’s fast - moving world, where efficiency is presented as essential for “success,” how can we take the time to SLOW DOWN, remember, and celebrate important moments that come up throughout each year? In my mind, what better way to do this than TOGETHER, with God as our Host?

God gives us the gift of time in order to take moments to care for ourselves and each other, . . . together. Think about our daily lives: we wake up and can pray together, have breakfast together, take care of our children and our pets, go to school or work and see our friends, classmates, and colleagues, have breaks throughout the day for things like lunch and recess, for things like naps (as I learned from my dad! ), have dinner and nighttime Prayers together, and countless other opportunities for togetherness. They are also great chances for us to bring mindfulness into our lives, something that has become evermore important for focusing on our mental, physical, and spiritual health. It’s in these small moments that we can feel and BE with God. This calls to mind one of my favorite Verses from the Bible - Matthew 18:20 - “For where two or three gather in My Name, there am I with them!” This is an awesome reminder to us from God’s Living Word!

Beyond these everyday moments, we also have dates each year that are important to us and that provide us with opportunities to remember and celebrate together as a Christian family, with God as our Host! Think about our celebrations of Holidays, both Religious and otherwise, and of Birthdays, Anniversaries, and other milestones? Let’s put some JesusTime into these days! He knows how to celebrate - after all, His first Miracle was turning water into wine!  All kidding aside, as our time goes by “quickly,” God reminds us to - TOGETHER - take time to mindfully slow things down to remember and celebrate. The best way to do this is by incorporating Prayer into and thanking our Host for each and every one!

What brought this topic to my mind this week? My family and I have 2 important celebrations this week. 

On Tuesday, May 20, we get to celebrate a very important woman in our lives. My mom, Tina, will have her Birthday, and I am so happy to say that we will be able to be together to celebrate her! Happy Birthday Blessings, and to many more, Mom! We love you very much!  

And, this coming Sunday, May 25, I remember and celebrate one of the most important days of my life. On this day, one year ago, I was blessed to marry the love of my life, Andréa Capuano. As this is our first anniversary, we will start the celebrating of this day off right by thanking God for the blessing of each other and our lives and love together. Happy first Anniversary, Honey! Here’s to many more! 

May God bless us, everyone, and may we take the time whenever we can to slow things down, gather TOGETHER, and remember and celebrate that whenever we gather together, God is there with us! 

Your friend in Faith, Hope, and Love, 

Joey 

"Este mundo no va a cambiar a menos que estemos dispuestos a cambiar nosotros mismos." 
(This world is not going to change unless we are willing to change ourselves.)
                                                                                 - Rigoberta Menchú