Supposedly, I have a little Irish blood in me, but I truly don’t know.

However, with Shannon as my first name, I have claimed some Irish ancestry.

St. Patrick’s Day has always been a day to wear green and perhaps eat corned beef, but nothing more.

As a horticulturist, I always wondered why shamrocks (another term for a 3-leaf clover) are associated with Ireland.

Actually, what is St. Patrick’s Day all about?

I did a little investigating and have realized that there are life lessons and a lovely story behind St. Patrick’s Day.

 

Who Was St. Patrick?

St. Patrick was actually British and lived in the late part of the 5th century.

He was enslaved by Irish pirates as a young man and taken to Ireland against his will.

Eventually, St. Patrick was able to escape back to his homeland of Britain where he professed his faith in God and studied Scripture.

Later in life he felt led to return to Ireland as a missionary to teach the Gospel.

Ireland was predominantly practicing polytheism (many gods), so St. Patrick used a clover to explain the concept of one triune God (Trinity- Father, Son and Holy Spirit).

And that is how Ireland became associated with the clover!

St. Patrick is revered as the founder of Christianity in Ireland.

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated each March 17, the estimated date of his death.

St. Patrick’s Lesson

St. Patrick definitely put his faith into action by being willing to leave his homeland to serve a nation that had enslaved him.

He used a negative experience as an opportunity to serve God and build His Kingdom.

St. Patrick is a reminder that God desires that none be lost.

If we are willing, he will make a way for us to reach those open to the Gospel.

I will look at the clover in my yard much differently now!

A reminder that God loves us so much that He sent His only Son and if we receive Him, His Holy Spirit lives within us!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!