Whoopee Day!

The Fourth of July usually meant a family reunion at our cabin in the Stanislaus Forest! My dad allowed us kids to invite our friends and, in later years, we also followed suit, allowing our children to bring their friends.

Old Aunt Emma came at the invitation of my mother’s sister. She was a child at heart and enjoyed the festivities right along side all the young people. The campfire, roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, singing and lighting sparklers for the holiday thrilled everyone!

Aunt Emma loved the excitement! As each sparkler was lit, she loudly exclaimed, “Whoopee Day!”

Her enthusiasm spilled over to our teenagers who echoed her gleeful cry as each sparkler was lifted in the air. Soon we all joined in with the phrase, “Whoopee Day!” It became our “happy” word for the next year. Aunt Emma’s youth was spent, but she enjoyed herself with child-like abandon!

Tom, one of our youth group teens, seemed to get a kick out of Aunt Emma! Perhaps she reminded him of his own grandmother. Tom demonstrated his own free-spirit and his attentions soon centered on one of my daughter’s friends. The next day, we spied her friend up a tree with Tom climbing after her, throwing leaves and pine cones. She yelled at him, “You are crazy,” and he returned the compliment with like words. His playfulness soon compelled her.

Youthful exuberance! Whoopee Day! That was the way they met! Their friendship continued with church as their base for building their relationship. That friendship led to marriage, and decades later they are proud grandparents, enjoying their retirement.

Now some might say that this was an extraordinary way to meet someone and find a mate! Perhaps it was!

If you are single and desire to find a loving, faithful and trustworthy companion with marriage in mind, do consider attending a good church that has other single persons who love God, and want to follow Jesus. If you are widowed or divorced, join a church singles group. Small groups are where you meet people.

If you don’t put limits on God, He can meet this need and help you enjoy life right where you are. Trust Him, enjoy life and in whatever state you find yourself, don’t be afraid to be happy and to exclaim, “Whoopee Day”!

Psalms 118:24 This is the day that the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.