Good Monday morning to you.. .. .. I like Monday’s, I guess they just feel like the first page of the book of a brand new week, and brim over with new possibilities. Of course it is better if it is sunny,
but as I look out my window, the rain is teaming down softly and gently. Actually it makes a change from the Indian Summer we just had this past week. Today, rain is absolutely perfect for what I need to do! Clearing presses, preparing bags of clothes for the charity shop, and generally trying to declutter my life of clothes and books that would be better with someone else who needed them.
It is funny when you start to rummage through old boxes and bags, the things you find: memories! But also among all of the memories I found many of my handwritten journals, ‘Precious Moments’, “Holly Hobbie”, and “Camo Girl” themed notebooks, full of my many letters to God.
Since I was a child I loved to write, and finding all of these etchings and heart-to-paper thoughts just overwhelmed me with the goodness of God in my life. Among the boxes, I also found my safely kept “Love Is” collection – I remember as a young pre-teen I discovered these romantic little cartoon characters on the crossword page of the Irish Independent, and from that day I saved a little of my pocket money so I could always buy that Sunday newspaper, purely to read that cute caption and cut out that little cartoon. I found them all safe and sound, although a little discoloured. I then came across my hand painted island pictures, tropical beaches, butterfly skies, and dreamy horizons: I love painting!
Some of these things I will keep, some I will read and then carefully leave out to be shredded, but one thing I will always keep, is the knowledge that through all the years that these books and boxes represent, God has watched over me and cheered me on through every day. He roared from the sidelines as I ran like the wind though my cross country and sprint competitions – He shouted my name out when I won my first basketball trophy and art competition medals – He applauded my efforts as I worked and studied full-time in Theology College, and even saw to it that I won the beautiful ‘Dorcas Award’ – through all of these years He has been my Great Rewarder, my Faithful Encourager, and always my daily strength. Today I like to think of it as the “fist bump of God”. He has high-fived me and said “Well done daughter, I am so proud of you!” – The Great I AM is proud of me, and proud of you too!
Maybe you have never needed, or felt the fist bump of God, or the approval of your Creator? But to me His voice has been the sweetest one I know. On days when I thought the battle was too hard, or the race too long, He gave me my second wind and helped me win the gold. When decisions were scarey or people let me down, He never left my side and taught me a better way. When roadblocks and hurdles tried to throw me off course, He came along beside me and made the way clear. The fist bump of God is His acknowledgement that He not only sees your efforts, but you are also on His team, the winning team! A fist bump can also be a symbol of giving respect when it is due. It is commonly used in baseball as a form of celebration with teammates, and with opposition players at the end of a game.
According to St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz, the fist bump was created by Stan Musial. It is said that knuckle bumping started in the 1970s with NBA player Baltimore Bullets guard Fred Carter. Others claim it began with the Wonder Twins, minor characters in the 1970s Hanna Barbara superhero FISH cartoon Super Friends, who touched knuckles and cried “Wonder Twin powers, activate!” However, the “fist bump” or “pound” can easily be traced as far back as the late 1800s and early 1900s to the boxer’s handshake as a way to greet when hands are gloved. So it was the handshake of fighters, determined to find away to say “Well done!”Some fist bump to celebrate sports victories, to agree on a good point, or in a congratulatory way when you want to say “good job.”
Some say it is no different than a high five. Experts have said that it is not suitable for those in love to do as it is seen as a ‘we’re just friends’ kind of gesture, but in my opinion aren’t the best relationships the ones that have a strong friendship too? Either way, I am grateful for the friendship and the fist bump of God, for His accolades after every accomplishment, and for His tender, proud, kind, encouraging words that say, “Job well done!”
Someone gave me the following verbal fist bump today; “Denise, you are already amazing and will just be even more amazinger!” (I love new ‘made up on the spot words’) – God says we are just becoming more amazing as we let Him develop and change us!
Every relationship has its trademarks, those unique and memorable things that someone does that make you love them more, it is one of God’s trademarks to encourage us. Trademarks are the unique things we find so endearing about others, and soon after we meet someone we learn to love their quirky ways. God has His favourite things about you too. So as I embark on a new challenge this week, which will take me through a few months of intense study, I am already aware of the fact that I will need fist bumps all the way through, and when May finally gets here, I will again here God say, “Job well done Nisey!”
God doesn’t want to be a silent partner in your life, your job, your career, your relationship or marriage, personal life or business ~ let Him speak the loudest! Let Him be the most important fist bump you get, hear Him say “Job well done!” And while we are at it, let’s not be afraid to fist bump each other, verbal or otherwise – find a way to say “Good Job!”
Remember, a fist bump says = “We’re in this together!”
Denise Kennedy❀ 