Because we’re nearing St. Patrick’s Day, I felt a need to share this (I’m positive) very true story with you. Enjoy!

The real reason the Irish celebrate St. Patrick’s Day is because this is when St. Patrick drove the Norwegians out of Ireland.

It seems that some centuries ago, many Norwegians came to Ireland to escape the bitterness of the Norwegian winter. Ireland was having a famine at the time, and food was scarce. The Norwegians were eating almost all the fish caught in the area, leaving the Irish with nothing to eat but potatoes.

St. Patrick, taking matters into his own hands (as most Irishmen do), decided the Norwegians had to go. So, he secretly organized the Irish IRATRION (Irish Republican Army to Rid Ireland of Norwegians) and the members of this newly organized group quickly passed a law prohibiting Irish merchants from selling ice boxes or ice to the Norwegians, in hopes that their fish would spoil. The plan was that this new law would force the Norwegians to flee to a colder climate where their fish would keep.

Well, the fish spoiled, all right, but the Norwegians (as everyone knows today), thrive on spoiled fish. So, faced with failure, the desperate Irishmen sneaked into the Norwegian fish storage caves in the dead of night and sprinkled the rotten fish with lye, hoping to poison the Norwegian invaders. But, again, as everyone knows, the Norwegians thought this only added to the flavor of the fish, and they liked it so much they decided to call it “lutefisk”, which is Norwegian for “luscious fish”.

Matters became even worse for the Irishmen when the Norwegians started taking over the Irish potato crop and making something called “lefse”.

Poor St. Patrick was at his wit’s end, and finally on March 17th, he blew his top and told all the Norwegians to “GO TO HADES!”. So they all got in their boats and emigrated to Minnesota or the Dakotas … the only other paradise on earth where smelly fish, old potatoes and plenty of cold weather can be found in abundance.

And, now you know the real story about the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations held all over the world!

Being Norwegian and Minnesotan, I make no apologies for this story … but I still don’t like lutefisk!

 

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‘I recently ordered your crosses a couple of months ago. I have been giving them out to people in my bible study. They absolutely love them. Please know that your crosses are touching many lives here in AZ. Thank you very much and may God bless!’ – Karen M, AZ

 

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In February, these folks enjoyed receiving our crosses and passing them on to others:

Grace Lutheran Church – McGregor, MN

Bev J – MN, for World Day of Prayer

Phyllis G – MN

Riverside Fellowship & Mission Center – Mora, MN

Maranatha Free Lutheran Church – Ulen, MN

Faith Community United Methodist Church – St. Anthony, MN

St. John’s Lutheran Church Women of the ELCA – Angleton, TX

 

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Even though the breakfast table never looks like the picture in the magazines
and the menu is at times unbalanced,
thank you Lord for the food we have … there are many who are hungry.

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings,
thank you Lord that I can hear … there are many who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible,
thank you Lord that I might see … there are many who are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising,
thank you Lord that I have the strength to rise … there are many who are bedridden.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic when socks are lost, toast is burned,
tempers flare, the children are so loud,
thank you Lord for my family … there are many who are alone and lonely.

Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous,
thank you Lord for the opportunity to work … there are many who have no job.

Every day, be thankful for what you have and for who you are.
Every day.