Hello! Today's is an extra special holiday post! I wanted to share the original reason behind today. The Pastor at church yesterday told this story, and it's amazing.
There was a kid who was called ---------------- (I don't remember his name, but it was really strange and our pastor said to cross it off any baby naming list right now.) At age 16 he was kidnapped by pirates and taken to and awful island that worshiped pagan gods in horrendous ways. He was made a slave, and he was referred to as 'pig boy.' For 6 years he fed pigs. Yet instead of musing in his misfortune and turning on God, he used this time to grow stronger in his faith. One night, he felt as if God woke him up, and told him to escape. He trekked 200 miles to the shore, where he found a boat, and returned to England. He devoted himself to studying Scripture, until he felt God telling him to go back. Walking out on faith, he and some of his friends went back to this horrid island, and he went to the slave traders who made him a slave and brought back his freedom. He told them about God, and they became Christians. He and his friends went around the entire island, and converted each town one by one, until this island was made new. The island was Ireland, and the man's name was changed to Patrick when he became a saint.
I love this story, it is so amazing. I wish I knew this story before. It's sad how our culture has so changed our view on holidays, now they are just Hallmark holidays or times to party. I'm going to find out more of the real stories of holidays, and celebrate those instead.
I had heard this before. It's amazing how our culture can take an inspiring story of a man obeying God's call and turn it into a Hallmark holiday. Did you know it's the same type of thing with Valentine's Day?
ReplyDeleteYes I do! I listened to an Adventures in Odyssey about it a few months ago. For the first year of my blog I am going to post on the holidays the beginning story behind that holiday.
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