I just realized I have an extra day this year! And it's coming up very soon, too. In high school, it was the weekend girls were allowed to ask out the boys. Any other week it was deemed unladylike and unseemly. So, what is this leap year thing all about?

Well, it takes the Ms. Earth slightly longer than 365 days (24 hours each) to make it around Mr. Sun, so we need that extra day to keep the calendar in line. Otherwise, after 100 years we would wind up something like 24 days ahead of the seasons. Now that would mess up my computer calendar!

The idea of leap year has been around since the Julian calendar was introduced in 238 BC. We currently use the Gregorian calendar, which is OK, but it may need some adjustment in about 3000 years. When the Gregorian calendar was adopted in Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain in 1582 they lost 10 days of October! Whoa! I feel sorry for all those people whose birthdays were during that time! I would not have liked to be without my birthday presents, I can tell you.

I grew up in New Mexico, and I happen to know that Anthony, Texas or Anthony, New Mexico -- Anthony is exactly on the border, so what state you're in depends on which end of town you're in! -- is the self-proclaimed Leap Year Capital of the World. Every 4 years they have a festival that includes a hot air balloon launch, a parade, and birthday party for those born on February 29. If you are a leap-er, by all means, free to stop by and join in the fun!

Now we have an extra day this month, and the big question is what should be do with this extra Friday? It is a gift, of sorts, and it is on a Friday. I have been thinking about this and it seems to me that I can either spend this extra day on my "wants" or my "needs" or I can give it to someone else.

I could use it as a day of total self-indulgence, or I could use it as a day to organize all of this paper mess around me, or I could use it to visit an old folk's home and bring cheer to some of those special senior citizens. Or, even more radical, I could use it as a day to commune with my Creator - worship music, dancing before my Lord, Bible reading, prayers of thanksgiving, and soaking up His magnificent creation.

However I use choose to use this extra day, I will be grateful for it. Every day is a gift from God, wrapped up in pretty possibilities and fluffy dream bows. Or, as the Psalmist said, This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

However you choose to spend your extra day, rejoice and be glad for the extra Friday!

(c)2008 April Lorier