I wanted to send a small tribute to our good friend Auntie Trish during her Jewish Holiday Hanukkah. Trish is actually my only Jewish friend (that I know of) and we just love her kindness, generosity, and her uniqueness. Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights, it's an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days The Christian Bible refers to Jesus being at the Jerusalem Temple during "the feast of the dedication and it was winter" in John 10:22-23.I thought it was a good time during this festive season to write about the importance of respecting one another and remembering that regardless of whether our religions are different, we are all God's children. Many people, my family included, celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus during this time and remember that our faith is wrapped around his life and promise to us for all enternity. But, many people do not have the same belief system but are still very Godly people. I think during this time we need to remember our friends and loved ones that might celebrate the love of God differently than we do and relish their place in our lives and thank them for the diversity that their beliefs bring to us. And, more importantly thank them for showing us that although we may have very different religious views, our common love of life, humanity, and God brings us very close together. I thank God through my appreciation that I have friends that are Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, and Christian. I am thankful that my Muslim friend, although she doesn't celebrate Christmas, loves God and even brought me a Holiday Gift to show her appreciation for our friendship. I believe that God has a place in all generations and in all lives and that if we just take a moment to remember that we are human and God, in whatever form, made us to be like him we can truly make this world a better place.
Happy Holidays to all my friends and family! God Bless!
