MAY DAY / LEI DAY
Lizzy’s mom always used to celebrate her birthday for the whole month (a practice I think we should all embrace!) In that same spirit, let me wish you a happy May Day, even if it was a few days ago. I was surprised to learn that our own tradition of May Day here in the islands only dates to 1927, with a change to Lei Day in 1928. You may have already started humming the song "May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii"! The 3rd line in the song says: “Flowers that mean we should be happy, throwing aside a load of care.”
Sweet blossoms and beautiful colors can lift our spirits, but there is nothing that compares to remembering the loving words of our Creator God, the One who made the flowers and who created us as well.
Psalm 139:13 reminds us that
it was You who created my inward parts;
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
May is not just May Day and Lei Day - we also celebrate Mother’s Day and Memorial Day. Anna Jarvis launched Mother’s Day in 1908, as an expression of appreciation for the sacrifices that all mothers make on behalf of their children. I love her original vision! We can all celebrate motherhood, because one way or another, we all had a mother who in one way or another made sacrifices on our behalf. God’s gift of life comes to us through both mother and father, but we honor the special role that mothers play in our lives.
Mothers give us the gift of life; on Memorial Day our nation honors those who lost their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice that we remember this month turns us back to God once again. Just as He gives us life, we remember the sacrifice of Jesus by which He saved all who believe, repent, and follow Him.
13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. -- John 15:13
We have much to celebrate this month, from the beauty of creation and the gift of our earthly lives to the bravery of those who serve our country and the perfect sacrifice of Jesus by which God saves us! With so many reminders of God’s love, let’s be quick to
Cast our burdens on the Lord, for He will sustain us. Ps. 55:22, paraphrased)
Jamie McElrath
Senior Pastor
