Happy St. Patricks Day!

Let me Start off by saying.. HAPPY ST. Patrick's Day! Okay..

From Wikipedia: A cultural and religious holiday celebrated annually on 17 March, the death date of the most commonly-recognised patron saint of Ireland.  Saint Patrick's Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early seventeenth century and is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland), the Eastern Orthodox Church, and Lutheran Church. 
Much of what is known about St Patrick comes from the Declaration, which was allegedly written by Patrick himself. It is believed that he was born in Roman Britain in the fourth century, into a wealthy Romano-British family. His father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest in the Christian church. According to the Declaration, at the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Gaelic Ireland.   It says that he spent six years there working as a shepherd and that during this time he "found God". The Declaration says that God told Patrick to flee to the coast, where a ship would be waiting to take him home. After making his way home, Patrick went on to become a priest.

According to legend, Saint Patrick used the three-leaved shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to Irish pagans.

According to tradition, Patrick returned to Ireland to convert the pagan Irish to Christianity. The Declaration says that he spent many years evangelizing in the northern half of Ireland and converted "thousands". Tradition holds that he died on 17 March and was buried at Downpatrick. Over the following centuries, many legends grew up around Patrick and he became Ireland's foremost saint.

Learned: After learning the REAL meaning about this amazing Holiday... It isn't just about Beer and Drinking and Drinking Games. Although, I never had the chance to partake in these festivities... I am undoubtedly thankful that I Never had. I am also thankful for my Pastors Wife for the Children's Sermon... Because She told the True Story of the Holiday. It made me want to research it and find out that it is Actually a Religious Holiday AND It was a Day an Amazing man died. He spread the word of God throughout Ireland. I Truly didn't put up all the history but You get the Jist of it.  It was so Inspiring to me that After being made a slave, He found God. Then went back and spread the word of the bible.. What an amazing person to have such a personal relationship with God.

Now.. it dismays me that.... Our culture. Our time. Our generation. Has turned this Religious Holiday into something that You have to drink Green beer and get drunk.. That you wear a shirt and get it wet for the best wet tshirt contest.. Somewhere along the lines someone stopped teaching people what this day was really about and let them think it was just about drinking.. I'M GUILTY too.. because I did NOT know there was anything about this holiday other than wearing green and Leprechauns... and well.. Drinking!

Well.. Now we know the real Story.. Thank you Marji for letting us know there is more to this day than Just the rituals our culture portrays.


Hugs and Love Leslie


Prayer: