If you suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia then you are probably having a pretty rotten day today. Paraskevidekatriaphobia is the fear of Friday the thirteenth. Hollywood has done much to heighten these fears with their horror movies that have been popular for the past 30 years, but the number 13 has been considered to be unlucky for centuries. Some date this association with the number 13 and bad luck back to the time of The Last Supper. (there were 13 people in attendance) However, the association with the number 13 and Friday has different and confusing roots.
Some claim that this association started back in 1907 with the publishing of a book titled Friday The Thirteenth, about a businessman’s attempt to crash the stock market on this fateful day. Others claim that the association goes back 600 years earlier to 1307 when King Philip IV of France carried out his raids against the Knights Templar in an effort to rid the world of their influence. Regardless of the origin, paraskevidekatriaphobia is a real fear for some people who cripple them and keep most of them inside on the day that these two (Friday and 13) collide to make the most unlucky day.
But luck is a matter of attitude. If you perceive yourself to be unlucky, then you probably will be. We can not place our trust in luck. We can not count on any one day being luckier or un-luckier than any other. After all “this is the day that the Lord has made.” God has given us each day. He doesn’t give us lucky and unlucky days. He gives us days and it is up to us to determine what we do with the day that He has given us.
If you are feeling a little nervous about this day just remember that this is His day, a gift from God, given to you and to me. It is up to us to make the most of it. And if you need a little reassurance, just remember these words from the Psalmist.
5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night. Psalm 121:5-6 ESV
Do you treat Friday the 13th any different from any other day?
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I learned a new word today! never heard of it. To answer your question: no I don't treat this day any different than any other (except Sunday and my wife's birthday). Can't mess the latter one. I also don't believe in luck or chance.
Too bad I can't pronounce it, or spell it. You must never forget the wife's birthday, that would certainly be your unlucky day!!
I am never unlucky on Friday the 13th, nor on any other day of the month. How can I be when God is in my life?!
Well said!! When He is in control there is no such thing as bad luck.
This is the day that the Lord has made
We will be glad and rejoice in it today!
Amen!
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