Holiday

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  - Colossians 2:6-7

The Holiday season has started.  Thanksgiving is just past; Christmas and News Year’s are right around the corner. Celebration is in sight.  But as I write this, it is a holiday in Western Pennsylvania. It is.  Deer season opens today, and yes, schools are not in session! It is an official holiday. 

Look out Bambi!

Holiday.  The word is a compound; formed when two distinct words are merged together. In this instance the words are holy and day.

Today then is a holy day.  It is.  And that fact has nothing to do with deer. 

Paul says, “…live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”  

If we strive to “live our lives in him,” and be “rooted and built up in him,” and “strengthened in the faith as you were taught,” then is goes to form that we would live “overflowing with thankfulness.”

Friends every day can be a holy day. If we are “overflowing with thankfulness.”  But the Bible says even that takes work.  Some measure of discipline for sure, but it also depends a bit on being aware of what is going on around us.  If we can’t see thankfulness overflowing around us, then it might be difficult to experience it ourselves.

So again…what are you thankful for as we head into Advent; into the Christmas season?  Health…family…friends…the birth of the Christ child….   There is so much to be thanking our God for.  Not just on a day that has been set aside as a holiday; but on any day that we decide is a holy day.

Even today.   Look out Bambi, but give thanks to God!