It is the day we celebrate all things Irish. With all that said, here are some key life lessons we should reflect on this St. Patrick’s day:

1. Life is hard and not fair. He was taken from his family and put into slavery. He went back and suffered severe persecution for sharing the Gospel to the nation that enslaved him. Even the church was against him, deeming Druids unworthy of being saved.
2. Patrick prayed. He prayed often. He prayed a lot.
3. Patrick was admittedly opposed to idols and he WENT to people and shared the good news of Jesus.
4. Patrick taught in ways that people could understand. And, while we knock the object lessons he used today, the point is he taught in meaningful ways.
5. Patrick put others before himself. As Jesus took the bread and said this is my body which is for you, Patrick did the same by serving sacrificially.
6. Patrick demonstrated love and forgiveness and it cost him.
7. The Irish, deemed less than human, saved western civilization. Much of this is to the work of a man who accepted that life is hard and not fair, took the harder path of forgiveness, and preached Jesus to all who would hear.
8. Slavery, persecution, and idol worship are alive and well today.  And, they are equally unpopular to discuss or push against.