Every Day’s a Holiday

A Spiritual Reflection

If you’ve spent any time with our Service Without Boundaries population, you have probably met Jacob. And if you’ve had the chance to meet him, you can’t forget him, nor can you forget his positivity. It can be contagious. And if you catch it, it will most certainly lift your spirit for the day and make any burdens you might be carrying seem just a little bit lighter for the moment.

Most every day, when my path crosses his, our greeting goes something like this:

“Hey Jacob, how’s it going,” I ask.

“Every day’s a holiday,” is his quick reply.

And by the way he responds with that statement, I know that’s not a half-hearted greeting. He truly believes it. I am sure he has his moments, like we all do. But it never shows. He exudes positivity. He is an encourager, just by the way he relates to those around him.

The apostle Paul gives a wealth of instruction to Christians on being encouragers. In fact, there are some twenty-five references in his New Testament writings to encourage others. One of my favorites is in Romans 12, where he writes these words:

“We all have different gifts…if (yours) is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement…”

We have too much division and negativity in our world today. And it’s fed by twenty-four-hour news sources, social media, and all forms of media readily available at the click of a button. It can almost be all-consuming if you allow it to be. But we have control over what we allow to influence our attitudes and behaviors. The question we must wrestle with is, what are we allowing into our minds and hearts to be that influence?

I don’t know about you, but I could use more of Jacob’s influence and a lot less of the culture around me.

In the coming weeks, as a nation, we’ll celebrate our 250^th birthday, our two and a half centuries of independence. Independence Day is one of the best holidays of the year for most everyone. It’s a time to reflect on the freedoms we have as a nation. Wouldn’t it be nice if every day was like Independence Day? Take some time in the weeks ahead to reflect; on our freedoms, our part in the culture that’s been and is being created around us, or on how we can be an influence for good by using the spiritual gifts we’ve been given, just like Jacob does every day.

We have the power to choose what is good and what is right.  And we have the opportunity every day to make the choice to be a positive influence on our world. When we realize just how powerful our words and attitudes can impact those around us, like Jacob, we begin to see that truly “every day is a holiday.”

Happy 250 America! Keep shining your light for what is good and what is right. And like Jacob, let’s make every day a holiday.