May 12*: Mother’s Day

*In the U.S., Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Saturday of May. For a list of other dates in other countries, see this Wikipedia page.

Today is a day to honor our mothers. I’m so grateful to my mother for all the love and care she has shown me, from before I was born to now, and for the friendship we have, despite the distance. Thank you, Mom!

I know the verse today may seem a bit strange, but it jumped out at me. Does a mother stop caring about her children? Not likely! And yet it’s even less likely that God would stop caring about us. In fact, Isaiah tells us there’s no chance at all that God will forget us!

“Shout for joy, you heavens;
rejoice, you earth;
burst into song, you mountains!
For the Lord comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me,
the Lord has forgotten me.’

‘Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
I will not forget you!
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me.
Your children hasten back,
and those who laid you waste depart from you.
Lift up your eyes and look around;
all your children gather and come to you.
As surely as I live,’ declares the Lord,
‘you will wear them all as ornaments;
you will put them on, like a bride.’”

Isaiah 49:13-18

May 11*: Train Day

Happy Train Day!

Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever actually been on a train in the U.S., unless you count subways. However, I did spend most of two weeks wandering around Europe with a Eurail Pass. Most of those trips were very pleasant (getting through Switzerland was great!), although there were a couple that were just nasty (a little commuter train somewhere).

Train Day is celebrated every year on the Saturday closest to May 10, because on May 10, 1869 the first transcontinental railroad was completed. The 1,907 mile track ran from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to San Francisco, California. This one development allowed people to get from one end of the country to the other in about a week, rather than taking close to six months in a covered wagon. It took six years of hard work before the workers from the Central Pacific Railroad in the west met up with the Union Pacific Railroad laborers from the east at Promontory Summit, Utah.

Check the National Train Day website for more information as well as Train Day events in your part of the country.

“Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.
I am a stranger on earth;
do not hide your commands from me.”

Psalm 119:18-19

P. S. Happy Twilight Zone Day too!

May 10*: Child Care Provider Day

The Friday before Mother’s Day is always celebrated as Child Care Provider Day or just Provider Appreciation Day. This holiday celebrates the babysitters, nannies, day care workers, etc., who spend their days (and nights) caring for their children. (Parents are, of course, the best child care providers, but mothers get their day Sunday and fathers in a few weeks, so this day is generally just for those who actually get paid for it.)

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not turn from it.”

Proverbs 22:6

While you’re at it, May 10 is also Clean Up Your Room Day!

May 9: Europe Day

First, to clear up all the confusion, there are two accepted dates for Europe Day. The Counsel of Europe celebrates Europe Day on May 5, the anniversary of their founding in 1949. The European Union, on the other hand, holds their celebration on May 9, in recognition of the Schuman Declaration, passed on May 9, 1950.

These celebrations are part of the post World War II goal of increasing friendship between the nations of Europe and preventing another war by creating a “supranational community.”

The holiday is celebrated frequently by parades and other public gatherings.

“Praise the Lord, all you nations;
extol him, all you peoples.
For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord.”

Psalm 117

P.S. For a more lighthearted May 9 holiday, check out last year’s post on Lost Sock Memorial Day!

May 8: V-E Day

Happy Victory in Europe Day! On May 8, 1945, the Allies accepted Germany’s surrender Berlin (another surrender was signed the day before in Reims, France).

It was a day of uncontrollable rejoicing, where people throughout Europe and in the States took to the streets, laughing, shouting, singing, and even hugging each other, whether friend or stranger. The war in the Pacific continued until Japan surrendered in August, but, after nearly six long years, the war in Europe was over.

“But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
‘The Lord is great!’”

Psalm 70:4

May 7*: World Asthma Day

The Global Initiative for Asthma organizes World Asthma Day every year on the first Tuesday in May to encourage asthma awareness and improve asthma care around the world. I had asthma pretty badly as a kid, but I’m one of the lucky ones and more or less outgrew it.

If you’re interested, you can also celebrate National Teacher Day and Radio Day.

“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

Genesis 2:7

May 6: International No Diet Day

May 6 is International No Diet Day! The holiday was started back in 1992 to encourage people everywhere to give themselves – and everyone else – a little bit of grace. The day is for those who suffer from anorexia, those who are morbidly obese, and everyone in between. We all need to strive for good health, but, beyond that, the holiday aims to help everyone relax a bit and not be so obsessed about our bodies.

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
Proverbs 31:30