The Challenge of Making Everyday a Holiday
by Theresa Lovell

Now that the official holidays are over, and you are trying to work on your New Year’s resolutions, here is a challenge for you to mull over. This challenge is a resolution that does not require making goals or promises to lose weight or stop smoking, or all the things that most people resolve to change. Instead, this New Year’s challenge requires a real life change. The challenge is to spend the entire year treating each day as a holiday!

To honor:

Valentine’s Day—Send a “love” note to a friend, a family member, or a member of the church, or give a rose to someone you don’t know. Imagine his/her surprise when you present your “gift” in September wishing a special someone Happy Valentine’s Day! God would have a huge smile on His face because He commands us to love one another just as He has loved us. (A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34)

Presidents’ Day— Since this is a national day to honor the great presidents who founded our country, you can choose to spend several days a year, honoring our leaders and praying for them. Or even discuss their contributions and how we all benefit from their example, courage, and self-sacrifice, rather than criticizing them for all of their mistakes. (Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Hebrews 13:7)

Easter and the Lenten Season—Let people know what Christ means to you. Easter marks a significant event in our history. This is the time that we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. He died for our sins so that we may be saved. Thanking Him for this great act should be in our daily prayers. Also, by sharing what Christ means to you, you may lead several to Him, thus, sharing the greatest gift of all—Salvation. (But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31)

Mother’s Day and/or Father’s Day—You could take any day in the year and give a single mom a mother’s day out. You could give a father who is barely supporting his family some ball game tickets or tickets to some other event, so that he can have a chance to create exciting memories with his children. Or visit a man or a woman in a nursing home who has out lived his/her children and brighten his/her day with your smile. When you give something special of yourself, you will be supporting these holidays as they mark the remembrance of mothers and fathers and honor them according to God’s commandment. (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)

Memorial Day—Pray and thank God on a daily basis for the soldiers who gave their lives heroically. We take one day a year to honor these soldiers who fought in our earthly wars, but we do not have a special day to honor those who heroically gave their lives to fight spiritual battles. Without these brave men and women we would not have the earthly and spiritual freedoms we enjoy today. Prayer is a wonderful act, but try reaching out to honor someone who has committed his/her life to Christ’s service. You can start by inviting your pastor and his/her family to dinner and an evening of fellowship with you. (This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 1 John 3:16)

Independence Day—You could send a scripture verse or write a note of encouragement to a friend who is troubled by his/her circumstances. You could also pray daily for America’s military personnel who are ready to do battle for our freedom, and for our missionaries being held captive or serving in another country where the threat of captivity is eminent. On July 4th, we celebrate our freedom from Great Britain and the birth of our nation. We should also celebrate our heavenly freedom because our liberation really begins when we declare God as the leader of our lives and spread His word so that others may seek Him and be free as well. (Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. Galatians 5: 1, 13)

Labor Day— The next time you eat at a restaurant or pick up your clothes at the dry cleaner, claim it is Labor Day and give your server or clerk an extra tip or maybe even leave a little surprise for your mailman in the mailbox to honor the work they do as Labor Day is a holiday dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. Many people work long and hard to make a living and to make living better. God rewards us for our labors that we perform for Him, so then you will be blessed when you walk in the ways of the Lord when you honor those who labor for you! (You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Psalm 128:2)

Grandparents’ Day— There are an infinite number of ways that you can assist the elderly, so when you are shoveling the elderly neighbor’s walk or carrying in their groceries, just smile at him/her and say Happy Grandparents’ Day! In so doing, you are following Christ’s teaching to honor those who are your elders. (Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5)

Veterans’ Day—Count the days of the past year that you honored our soldiers who fought in past wars who are still living, then double it for this year. There are many homeless and ill veterans that would greatly appreciate being honored with clothing, food, shelter, or even just a visit. (Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. 1 Peter 2:17)

Thanksgiving—Give thanks several times a day for all the wonderful things that God has given us or is planning to give us, but has not yet revealed. Thanksgiving is a time when families gather for a huge family dinner and store away enough leftovers for the whole family for a month and, yet, several thousand people go hungry everyday without even a glimmer of hope of having a full plate. Try claiming several more days as Thanksgiving and take what you can to share with those who do not know when they will have another meal or perhaps organize several of your family and friends to adopt a family. There may be those in your church who have just barely enough to eat, and cannot enjoy the treat of eating out, so try surprising someone with a gift certificate to your favorite restaurant. Think seriously about these people whether they are starving or just barely getting by and care for them all year so that they will see a light at the end of their tunnel and do not have to wait until the “holiday season” for the food baskets that churches and organizations bring. (He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy. Proverbs 14:21)

Christmas Eve/Day— Try having a Christmas celebration every month. Just think what kind of blessing you’d be to someone by giving every month. For example, organize a blanket drive in March, one of the coldest months of the year. You, your friends, and/or your church members could take food, blankets, and gifts to the needy and give them a kind of warmth that they never expected. At Christmas time, everyone is playing cheery carols and hustling around buying gifts and baking cookies. They get all “wrapped” up in sleigh rides, shopping, and food drives for needy families. Could you imagine what the world would be like if we remembered the true reason for this holiday with this much exuberance everyday? Christmas is to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. If you hear of a lay off at a company you can take the initiative to start a Christmas drive for funds for these families that have lost their income—even if it is in the middle of July! God calls us to be givers, for we can never out give him, but it doesn’t have to be money and material gifts. Think of other ways, even simple ones, in which you can give, perhaps a smile or a friendly chat with a new co-worker? The giving season should be all year round, not just in December! (Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7)

— Try blowing your party favors each morning when you arise and bring in the New Day! People blow party favors and toast each New Year and celebrations run amuck as we ring in every New Year. Wake up with this cheerful “party” attitude everyday, for we are given another chance to do what God wants us to do as we are still here. Each new day is another gift from God and we should rejoice and be glad in it! (This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24)