Summer Holidays

For the month of July we move from Summer Blessings to Summer holidays! 

The word “holiday” was first recorded in English around the year 950, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, but it looked a lot different back then.

In Old English, it was written haligdæg or hali-dægh (literally “holy day’). Holiday in our modern  spelling was first recorded in 1460. 

How would you define a holiday? Prabbus, an Indian actor defines holiday this way. “Holiday is an opportunity to journey within. It is also a chance to chill, to relax. It is when I switch on my rest mode.” Speaking of such rest for the follower of Christ, the writer of the letter to the Hebrews advocates:-

“So there is a full complete rest still waiting for the people of God. Christ has already entered there. He is resting from his work, just as God did after the creation. Let us do our best to go into that place of rest, too, being careful not to disobey God as the children of Israel did, thus failing to get in.” (Hebrews 4:9-11)

It was Leonardo da Vinci, who indeed was no idler but excelled as a painter, sculptor, poet, architect, engineer, city planner, scientist, inventor, anatomist, military genius, and philosopher yet said. “Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer, since to remain constantly at work will cause you to lose power of judgment...Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller, and more of it can be taken in at a glance, and lack of harmony or proportion is more readily seen." 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the 'rest' we already have by faith in Christ Jesus and for the full and final sabbath-rest that will one day be ours, when Christ finally defeats every evil principality and power. Thank You that the earthly kingdom which was lost through sin, will be handed back to You, and Your redemptive plan will be completed. Keep me looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith, the Beginning and the End of Your creative work. Thank You in Jesus' name, Amen