Happy Holy Days! … Hello weekend readers. It’s a busy weekend with the Super Bowl in Las Vegas and the Phoenix Open (the “Greatest Show on Grass”) which just may turn into snow, ice or flooded fairways! This brings me to musing on how we look at ‘special days’ which are often found on our calendars.

I made calendars this year for family, friends, and myself. I love doing it because I am a photographer so it’s neat to share the photos with those I love. I go online for the upcoming year and each year it changes with more days on the calendar! Take February for instance; we have: First Day of Black History Month, Groundhog Day, Lunar New Year, National Wear Red Day, Rosa Parks Day, Ronald Reagan Day, National Girls & Women in Sports Day, Isra and Mi’raj, Lunar New Year, Super Bowl, Lincoln’s Birthday, Georgia Day, Shrove Tuesday-Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, Valentine’s Day, Statehood Day, Susan B. Anthony’s Birthday, Elizabeth Peratrovich Day, Presidents’ Day, Daisy Gatson Bates Day, African-American Scientist & Inventor Day, George Rogers Clark Day, and Linus Pauling Day—whew! And that is just ONE month! Some of the other months are fun, National days for Strawberries, Fettuccine Alfredo, Pumpkin, Raspberries, Apples, Peaches—it goes on and on.

I’m not sure how many people celebrate all of these, but I’m thinking for many, it is kind of fun to get friends and/or family together for a special day! We have so much tragedy in our world, so why not change our mood into a celebratory atmosphere. One writer I enjoy reading did this: she adopted National Fettuccine Alfredo Day. Why? She lives in an Italian community outside of Chicago and this was so much fun to bring in her Italian dishes along with all her friends in the community. They have been doing this now for years. Some have moved, others have passed away, but more take their place and it is a wonderful time to share with each other and make new friendships.

I decided to look up what the word ‘holiday’ really means and thus my musing on such things. ‘Holiday means Holy Day’ – yep, it’s a religious meaning that is “sacred, dedicated to God.” OK, I’m trying to put that together with Super Bowl, Fruit, Fettuccine, etc., and it doesn’t quite relate. But I am trying to put two opposites together, when the whole idea is not about the center of the day, but the celebration! And honestly, who doesn’t need to have a few more celebrations in their lives? Like smiles instead of frowns, right?

Using the Message Bible, we read in Romans 14:1 & 5:
“Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently… Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience.”

So why not celebrate as many holidays as possible? I have a friend that loves to schedule some of these celebrations for an Assisted Living Home. She wanted more than just Bingo, Kick-the-Ball, and drawing. “They get so bored with that” she said, so she looked through the calendar to find all these days about “just anything” and those small celebrations not only changed her life but the lives of those in Assisted or Nursing homes who have often fallen into a depression, thinking that their life doesn’t mean anything anymore. Now they look forward to the celebrations that encourage them and remind them that life IS worth living.

So, what are you celebrating this weekend? No doubt sports will be on the top of the list, but take a deeper dive into God’s Word, and find refreshment for your soul and encouragement that calls you to celebrate! Each day is a gift from God, so declare it “my holy HAPPY DAY” and gather some family or friends together and celebrate what God has done for you, what God gives to you—like my favorite—Baby-back Ribs on the grill? You know what I mean, enjoy your life and celebrate the goodness of God that never ever ends, amen-AMEN