PASSION, GOODNESS, WELL-BEING, VICTORY

 Hello and Happy Sunday,

This is Dan and my 20^th day hunkering down and we are getting used to this new norm.  Reminiscing of the younger years, while I was growing up Catholic and religion being a part of my everyday life. This time of the year is special to me. It starts the first day of Holy Week, Palm Sunday.  Dan knows it as the week before the Easter bunny comes.

Palm Sunday, also called Passion Sunday, is in the Christian tradition, the first day of Holy Week and the Sunday before Easter. This is when Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It is associated in many churches with the blessing and procession of the date palm.

Date palms are majestic, tall trees that grow abundantly in the Holy Land. Their long and large leaves spread out from the top of a single trunk that can grow to more than 50 feet in height. In Bible times, the finest specimens grew at Jericho (which was known as the city of palm trees), Engedi, and along the banks of the Jordan River.

In ancient times, palm branches symbolized goodness, well-being, grandeur, steadfastness, and victory. They were often depicted on coins and important buildings. King Solomon had palm branches carved into the walls and doors of the temple:

On the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer rooms, he carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers. (1 Kings 6:29)

Palm branches were regarded as tokens of joy and triumph and were customarily used on festive occasions (Leviticus 23:40, Nehemiah 8:15). Kings and conquerors were welcomed with palm branches being strewn before them and waved in the air. Victors of Grecian games returned to their homes triumphantly waving palm branches in their hands.

Like ancient times, lets use the palms branches as a symbol of goodness, well-being, and victory over the virus and today have passion toward one another.

“It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness.”

― Leo Tolstoy, The Kreutzer Sonata

“Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.”

― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

“Just living isn't enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." -Hans Christian Anderson”

― Louisa Thomsen Brits, The Book of Hygge: The Danish Art of Living Well

“On the sands of hesitation, lie the bones of countless millions. Who at the dawn of victory sat down waiting and waiting died? So always remember to keep moving no matter how small steps you take one day you will achieve your destination.”

― Dr Bhawna Sokta

HOW DOES GRATITUDE FEED YOUR SOUL?

In getting in the spirit of things, I remember a couple of years ago when living in Mexico; in the square of Ajijic.  Near the church, many of the locals were selling different shapes and sizes of palms in honor of Palm Sunday.  When moving back to the states, I brought this back with us, for the memory of this blessed holiday.

 Share a picture from your past, something meaningful that reminds you of your celebrating Easter and I will post it on my next blog.

One of my favorite pictures is my daughter and mother. My mom made a paper mache rabbit.  It was full of candy and Easter Eggs.

Until tomorrow, stay home and be safe.  Let’s bring passion, goodness, well-being, change and victory back into this world and together we Can - conquer this virus.

To end, here are some jokes that will hopefully make you laugh.