Well, here we are again and it's the last Wednesday of 2016. We really hope you've had a fantastic Christmas, whether you've been relaxing or rushing around visiting family and friends, and we wish you a very Happy New Year.
Back to our Wednesday though. There were a few to choose from this week, but given that Christmas has just passed, I thought we'd stick with the Christmas story and I, therefore, present to you the very special day of ...
...Holy Innocents Day or Childermas. This day commemorates the little boys murdered by Herod, following the birth of Christ. If you know the story, you will know that Joseph had already been warned of Herod's plans in a dream and had fled with his family to Egypt until Herod was dead.
Matthew 2: 16 - 18 (NIV)
16 When Herod realised that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18 "A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more"
Now, I will be honest, I go to church, regularly (given a several month break full of doubts and hurt, but that is a whole post all of its own), and I have never come across this as a recognised day. I've obviously come across it, but not realised it had a particular date in the diary.
Given the innocent children suffering across the globe and particularly in Aleppo, I thought this day was a good reminder to us all, regardless of faith, beliefs etc. to remember the suffering of innocent children today. I hope that going forward into the New Year, the governments of our World can come together to find a resolution to the unrest, hatred and murder of all peoples, and make the World a place where our children can grow up without fear.
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