The Eight Day Of Christmas

8 Maids A-Milking stands for the eight beatitudes

New Years Day came and went so fast that I hardly remember anything but football. New Years Day has always been a slow, relaxing day in my life. Nothing very special; no significant memories associated with it. About the only tradition related to it I got from my ex in-laws: the required eating of black-eyed pees. Supposedly, eating black-eyed pees on New Years Day is required in order to make money during that year. It has not worked so far but I keep trying.

The Eight Beatitudes

• Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
• Blessed are the meek for they shall posses the land
• Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforter
• Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice for they shall be fed
• Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy
• Blessed are the clean of heart for the shall see God
• Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God
• Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

Several of these jump out at me. The main one is "Blessed are they who mourn." I do not think most people appreciate the value of truly mourning. Cultures that encourage their members to be stoic and to swallow their feelings tend to not be as healthy emotionally as cultures where emotions are openly displayed.
It is hard for me to express negative feelings. I truly believe that is the major cause of my depression. I do not even write my deepest, darkest feelings here… if you can believe that. It would really be a blessing to be able to open up to someone. That is why I like therapy so much, I can open up to my therapist even when I cannot or will not open up to others.