A Devotional for St. Patrick's Day

With a last name like O’Toole, there are many expectations around Saint Patrick’s Day. Not the tiniest part of me is Irish, but after almost 35 year of marriage into a very Irish family I have learned the requirements, at least the secular ones.

As Christians, I don’t think we can learn much from leprechauns, pots of gold, corned beef, and always overcooked vegetables, but we can learn much, especially during these challenging times, of Irish camaraderie and fellowship. The Irish are known worldwide as both warm friendly people and as a people that has suffered terrible trials throughout their history. Perhaps the two are related and the Irish are the way they are because of their trials. They’ve  had a strong social network long before that phrase was coined. Let us take a cue from the Irish and use these strange challenging times to be the warm friendly people that we celebrate today. In fact, the Irish even have jewelry that shows this importance.  The Claddagh ring is a traditional Irish ring which represents love, loyalty, and friendship. The hands represent friendship, the heart represents love, and the crown represents loyalty.

Today we are socially distanced but only physically. Let’s pray that we have eyes to see the boundless opportunities to strengthen our friendships, love on those we can’t be physically close to, and show loyalty to businesses when they re-open. Let the claddagh symbol remind us of this importance.

I remember a blessing I first heard from my husband’s grandmother, “May the Lord keep you in His hand and never close His fist too tight.” What a beautiful sentiment this week.  Officials and precautions may be holding us tightly, but it is God that holds us in the palm of His hand and gives us many opportunities to do his work. Ephesians 2:10 tells us, “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We can do it now more than ever.