5/14/2026
So much is happening today in our nation, in Israel, and in my family! On May 4, 2026 President Trump proclaimed May as Jewish American Heritage Month 2026, and issued a proclamation calling for May 15-16 to be a "National Shabbat" and "Shabbat 250" calling on Jewish Americans to honor the Sabbath. This has never been done by a sitting President, the news is saying; however, God called us to honor the Sabbath from the beginning of creation. When the calendar was changed during the time of the Nicene Council 1700 years ago, Sunday began to be honored as the day of rest. I for one am very happy to see someone other than me and my friends talking about honoring the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. I was raised with Blue Laws, so businesses were closed, except for ones absolutely necessary for travelers, but I have observed both days for several years. There is much to be gained by following the commandments of the God, as our souls and bodies need rest, and we definitely need to draw closer to God by reading our Bibles and spending more quality time with our families. In Israel today marks the 78th anniversary of Israel becoming a nation on May 14, 1948, so today many are enjoying Jerusalem Day festivities. We are commanded in scripture to "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may they prosper who love you." (Psalm 122:6). As believers in Christ and as American citizens, we have much to be grateful to Israel.
In just about an hour I will be joining my sister and her son, and we will be traveling to Blacksburg to attend my sister's grandson Alex's graduation at Virginia Tech. In 2023 we attended Alex's older brother Jacob's graduation from Tech, and it is also my brother's alma mater, considerably more years ago. It seems to be the college of choice for the men in the family at least. As for me, I attended Virginia Commonwealth University many years ago, and since that time the college campus has spread all over Richmond. Virginia Tech is a sprawling university, and it is a very scenic area. I have always loved being at colleges, as the atmosphere can become electric. The hustle and bustle of young men and women laughing and engaging in conversations that are pleasant and non-confrontational. At least that is what I remember of college life, although I was married with three small children when I went back to college, so I didn't engage in many social activities. Still, it was nice to see people happy and enthusiastic at Tech, as we strolled around the campus and had a nice luncheon prior to the graduation. As we were rushing to the stadium for the ceremony, we actually met a lady whose son was graduating who knew my neighbor in Dinwiddie County. It truly is a small world. I often wish that I had gone away for college after I graduated from high school, but it wasn't a possibility back then. Still, I have fond memories, and I made wonderful friends and teachers who believed in me and encouraged me in my education.
Life is full of surprises and many wonderful blessings. I can hardly wait to discover what God has in store for us today.
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