More than a Party

Growing Daily

The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays, and for many years, we've marked the occasion by hosting a big party. The lawn fills with yard games, and the house overflows with food, fun, and laughter. As evening falls, we gather on the deck as shoreline fireworks light up the sky. It’s a tradition our kids and friends look forward to every summer.

As much as we love it, let’s be honest... putting on a big event is a lot of work. Getting the house ready, landscaping the yard, buying and preparing food, hosting, and cleaning up... As the preparations ramp up each year, we find ourselves asking: Is it worth all the effort?

But after the last sparkler fades and the final dish is put away, we always come to the same conclusion: Yes, it was worth it!

What we’re building isn’t just a party — it’s community. It’s shared laughter and strengthened relationships in a space where people feel welcome and loved.

Galatians 6:9 reminds us to “not get tired of doing what is good” because those consistent, faithful efforts will bear fruit in time. Sometimes that good may not look particularly “spiritual.” God can use ordinary moments of hospitality to encourage people more deeply than we often realize.

Today, consider who might need an invitation, a conversation, or simply a place to belong.

- Ron Reid