Ordinary food can be made great with good service, while a bad waiter or waitress makes even the best food not worth the trouble. Of course, a server’s job is hard work, and who knows how many things they’re trying to deal with all at once.
I am always amazed by servers who bring me the right refill before I’m out and realize without my asking that I’m running low on napkins.
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
1 Peter 4:9
I, personally, would love to celebrate Be a Millionaire Day, but I’m not sure exactly how. Perhaps someone will let me win a game of Monopoly or Life or something, because I don’t see it happening tomorrow with real money!
“A feast is made for laughter,
and wine makes life merry,
but money is the answer for everything.”Ecclesiastes 10:19
If you do become a millionaire, I highly recommend keeping some of it in gold coins so you can laugh maniacally while obsessively counting the coins, like Prince John in Disney’s old animated classic, “Robin Hood.”
“When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, ‘The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.’”
Judges 6:12
Today, we celebrate very different warriors – the soldiers, sailors, pilots, and others who work to keep our country safe. Since 1949, Americans have celebrated the third Saturday in May as Armed Forces Day. It’s a time to honor all those who have served this country in the military.
No matter what political opinions you hold, I think we can all agree that we should be grateful for all their sacrifices.
All photos are public domain.
According to ICOM, the International Council of Museums, May 18 is always International Museum Day. Celebrate by going to a museum, or, if that’s not going to work today, take a virtual museum tour online (or create your own temporary museum at home!). Today celebrates not just the large famous museums, but the little hole-in-the-wall places located around the world. However, today I’m including a few of the biggest, most famous museums that I have ever visited (sadly, there’s no way I could visit any of these today – most of them would require a long flight!):
I haven’t been able to visit for years, but I adore the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, and, of course, the National Air and Space Museum. Amazing!
The British Museum has everything from everywhere. You can see just about anything from any place around the world and any time period. I’m afraid you need several days to take it all in.
The Louvre is overwhelmingly huge and brim full of artwork of all type.
Officially the craziest museum in the world. They literally have mummy cases stacked on top of each other in corners because they don’t have room to actually display them.
At the beginning of Esther’s story, King Xerxes held a giant festival of sorts, which somewhat reminded me of a museum. Ergo . . . today’s verse:
“For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty.”
Esther 1:4
Yes, we’re named for a small rodent that takes everything it can (especially trash and shiny items) to create its home.
After comparing myself to a few others I know and seeing commercials for “Hoarders” and “Hoarding: Buried Alive“, I sometimes forget that I really am a pack rat. It’s nicer to look and think, “Wow. I’m so glad I’m not like that!”
There are two ways to celebrate today:
On the other hand, you could always celebrate by listening to the music of the Rat Pack instead!
“Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
have the wisdom to show restraint.”Proverbs 23:4
May 16 is Wear Purple For Peace Day. Of course, we should all be working towards world peace, simply because we should. But today is about more than that. Today, people wear purple to promote world peace so that aliens will contact us!
Yep. That’s wearing purple . . . for world peace . . . so that the aliens will stop avoiding our warring planet and come see us.
Apparently purple is every alien’s favorite color.
“Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt.”
Exodus 23:9
In much of the United States, May 15 is known as Straw Hat Day. This day was much more important in earlier generations, when men and women never left home without a hat. From September 15 to May 14, men are supposed to wear nice felt hats, but come May 15 they must switch to straw for the summer.
So today, we can all break out our summer hats (women too – see Scarlett O’Hara!). Bonus points if you wear a seersucker suit with it.
“See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.”Song of Solomon 2:11-12
It’s time to celebrate:
Now, throughout the rest of the day, create your own background music and see how many people you can get to dance with you – coworkers, everyone who’s waiting in line with you at Starbucks, fellow elevator riders, etc.
Happy National Dance Like a Chicken Day!
“Then young women will dance and be glad,
young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into gladness;
I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.”Jeremiah 31:13
*Mother’s Day is always celebrated on the second Sunday of May in the U.S.
Where would we be without our mothers? It’s a bit of a silly question, since we obviously wouldn’t exist. So, give your mom a call today or make her lunch and let her know how much you love her, and while your at it, give your grandmothers a call too. They won’t be around forever. (Personal opinion: a printed card is great, but not enough. Don’t depend on someone else to tell her how you feel. Tell her yourself!)
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
Exodus 20:12
Various mother’s days have been celebrated for many years, but the current American celebration owes a lot to Anna Jarvis. After her mother died, their church held a mother’s celebration in May 1908, where they handed out her mother’s favorite flowers, carnations, to everyone. (Go here for a great explanation of the history behind Mother’s Day.)
There once was a man named Lear
Who had a very famed ear
He wrote a poem
And so we owe ‘im
And Limerick Day is here!
The Limerick he did invent
With rhymes he could not prevent
Right in the middle
They’re small like a fiddle
And dirty jokes are always present.
“I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.”
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
