Tomorrow, our daughter, Anne, will graduate from the University of Southern California School of Medicine. The way we’ve been carrying on around here, you would think it was the coronation of the Queen.

Two days ago, we all received an email from Marti titled “Anne’s Graduation Plans and Assignments.” My wife, who is the consummate planner, put this together. It’s got every day mapped out through the weekend and a place where each of us can write in our assignments for that day. I’m carrying mine around with me and I refer to it often.

This might seem like a lot of hoopla for a grad school graduate, but anyone close to Anne knows how hard she has worked over the last three years. She deserves this. Her brother and some of his friends are planning fog horns, music and body paint for when she walks across the stage.

You know, we could all use some attention like this once in a while in our uncelebrated, sometimes ordinary lives. God rejoices over us; we should stop and do a little rejoicing ourselves, even if just to “celebrate me.”

When we had Academy Awards night at Isaiah House we thought we would have a few of the women get up and receive an award and give an acceptance speech. Every single one did. It didn’t seem to matter that it was make believe. It was a chance to be celebrated. We’ve seen this happen month after month there. Any reason to celebrate their lives is enthusiastically welcomed. After all, we’re just agreeing with God when we do this.

“We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). It starts with being loved. Our ability to love God and others comes from embracing his love for us first and foremost. That love alone is worth celebrating any time.

For the Fischer family, this is Anne’s weekend. We have a reason to do this. But you do too. For the rest of you, your life – created by God, in his image, and loved by him – is reason enough. Make it a point to truly celebrate your life today.