I am visiting my dad in Carlsbad, California....sandwiched between Naval and Marine bases in San Diego and Oceanside....it is full of men and women serving our country in the armed forces.
Tomorrow is Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, and is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to our country.
Too often I never stop to consider what this day means. For many of us, it has been reduced to a three day weekend, or sales at the mall, or having a BBQ with friends and family. In our church, the month of May is somewhat of an exodus for many who travel to 'home' churches for "Decoration Day" or "Homecoming".
Yet....for many....and perhaps many of you reading this blog....the superficial, nonchalant disregard for the day is heartbreaking.
Perhaps you have a son or a daughter, a grandson or granddaughter, a father or mother, a brother or sister, or even a husband who is serving or has served....or perhaps, you yourself have served our great country. Thank you! Thank you for your commitment and your sacrifice and your loss.
Let's make Memorial Day what it was intended to be....a day to remember the freedom God has given us and those who died to make it possible. May it become more than just a three day weekend. Pray for those who are serving right now. For the families who are left behind. For God to move among the nations and the peoples to bring salvation to the lost.
Do you have someone in your church who is serving or a spouse or child or parent of someone serving? Do they need a word of encouragement from you?
If you know someone who needs prayer, please let us know their first name via a comment and we would love to join with you to pray for them!!
2 comments:
It has been my family tradition for probably close to 80 years to decorate the graves of our family on Memorial Day weekend. My parents did it as little children with their parents and they did it with us. Both Mom and Dad are gone now but it has continued with us. For the first time in my life my sister and I did not travel to Kentucky and Ohio to decorate graves but left it to our brothers who live there to carry on the tradition this year because of gas prices. It seemed strange to stay at home memorial weekend, and a little sad--not sure we will do it again. We were taught at an early age to remember those who have gone on before us. We were able to do it from "afar" but somehow it wasn't the same. Thanks for sharing and reminding us the true meaning of Memorial Day. I'm proud to say my Dad and two of my brothers served our country in the armed forces and I, too, say Thank You.
Thanks for publishing this reminder . . . . Living here in Clarksville, there are military families all around, being that we are so very close to Ft. Campbell. We can't go anywhere without the impact of the military being right in front of us . . . These men and women are so very brave and sacrifice so very much. Just this Sunday I held babies in the preschool with an Army wife whose husband is on his fourth tour of duty. By the time he returns, he will have missed well over four years of the lives of his four children. . . I know I have never been more aware of just how precious these soldiers and their families truly are . . . Thank you Lord for these and their families!
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