Celebrating the Real St. Patrick

Update: This was written a few days ago and scheduled to post today.  However, we have a little girl that just isn't right.  Mommy thinks she may be getting the flu.  So we will be celebrating but not today like we planned.  She won't know the difference anyway....right?!?!

I remember thinking as a kid how stupid St. Patrick's Day was.  It baffled me to have a holiday that you wore green or got pinched.  It didn't make sense to have a holiday that celebrated being cruel to one another.  When I went to collage St. Patrick's Day became the drinking holiday.  Everybody geared up to head to a near by college town for Unoffical which took place the weekend before.  It was all about the green beer, green shirts, and getting as drunk as possible. 

This holiday like so many others in our culture has been twisted and changed to fit our own wants and desires.  As that confused kid I would of told you I was never going to make a point to celebrate this holiday with my child.  However, this year that is exactly what we will do...celebrate.  Why?  Because of the real reason behind the holiday.  (Thank you Mom for your persistence and diligence to always have Christian radio on...particularly adventures in Odyssey.)

Patrick's name was orginally not Patrick and he was not from Ireland.  His name was Maewyn and her was kidnapped at the age of sixteen from his home in the British Isle to be a slave in Ireland.  During those six years as a shepard boy he met Christ.  One night he had a dream about his ship being ready.  He felt God was telling him to go.

God wasn't done with Patrick and Ireland though.  After studying and becoming a priest he headed back to Ireland to reach a land that was full of paganism for Christ.  Patrick came with boldness and grace and for 30 years reached out to the people of Ireland.  Many speculate that he used a shamrock to teach about the trinity.  I really encourage you to read up on his life and if you have kids consider buying the Odyssey series that teaches about Patrick.  (You can purchase the rights to download each of the episodes for $1.99 a piece or buy the entire CD of episodes for $14.99.)

So while we will probably not being be dressing like little Irish men, searching for pots of gold, or dancing a jig (although we will probably listen to Irish music) we will be celebrating.  How?  You will have to stay tuned for the pictures tomorrow.... We hope like many other holidays (Christmas, Easter) that have been changed for our own pleasures our child will be able to know the real meaning behind it and appreciate the man that St. Patrick was.