Memorial Day
Memorial Day comes at a time of the year that represents the transition of Spring to Summer. School is out, kids and sports have run their course, and the time has come for many families to change directions and routines. But so many times I think we forget that Memorial Day is not just about a three day interval; but something much grander and much more significant that stands on the banks of our history. I know I am guilty of not taking the time to prayerfully honor and appreciate the soldiers who bravely fought and lost their lives....fighting for the freedoms that we enjoy.
Just a little reminder of the background of Memorial Day. I t was originally known as Decoration Day. Memorial Day began with an idea from General John Logan, as a way to honor the fallen soldiers of the Civil War. The first celebration was on May 30, 1868. Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country. More specifically, it honors those who died in battle or as a result of wounds they sustained during battle.
The following thoughts and excerpts are ones taken from a 2018 article in Christianity Today titled “Memorial Day: For What Shall We Live by Roger Brady”.
“They gave their very best, and we were reminded that we must do the same. They died serving something bigger than themselves—the transcendent ideals that make America the country we cherish.”
“For us as Christians, this day should have an even more poignant meaning. Many of the same values that our nation hopes to nurture and the traits military members are challenged to embody are consistent with those perfectly modeled for us by our Savior. He was the quintessential example of service and sacrifice.”
Brady writes that he sees a similarity between patriotism and faith, and how we sometimes get the flag and the cross confused. “ As American Christians, we are indeed twice-blessed, but we should not get the two confused. America is an imperfect place, an unfinished project, an ideal we hope to make a reality.”
“The American writer Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, once said we should give loyalty to our country always and to the government when it deserves it. I believe he meant that our only true loyalty (to God) is to those eternal principles to which governments aspire but do not always demonstrate. There may well come times when our government takes a path we cannot in good conscience follow, and we must stand where God stands. But it is right that we devote time to remember and honor those fellow citizens who gave their all for us—we are forever in their debt.”
“So on Memorial Day, and every day, we need to ask ourselves, for what shall we live? How are we doing at fulfilling not just the ideals of our American forefathers but those universal values set in place by the one who made us in his image, who sent his only begotten son to secure our salvation, the one who “created us in him to do good works?”
“Someday we will find ourselves at the end of our lives looking back, and we will ask ourselves what it was all for. At that moment, we will all want to recall a life of service to something larger than ourselves, to children who needed our teaching and our example of service, to people whom we gave a hand up in time of need, to friends and colleagues whom we comforted in times of sorrow, lives with whom we shared the many physical and spiritual blessings that have been bestowed on us. If we live that life of service, we will have fulfilled the challenge of the Savior when he said, “Whatever you did for one of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matt. 25:40). We are the foot soldie
I thank God this day for the many soldiers whose lives have been lost as they fought ferociously for freedom. May we not only remember them and honor them but continue the fight for the Godly values God has given us .May we be willing each day to serve others sacrificially, being his foot soldiers of today and allow God the reigns to guide our lives. Amen
This is the link to the article in its entirety…it is excellent. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/may-web-only/memorial-day-for-what-shall-we-live-usaf-4-star-general.html
Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation
He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!
