Remember

This weekend we pause to remember those who have given their lives to defend the freedoms we hold so dear as Americans as well as defend the freedoms of others around the world. This is a special day for me. As a veteran, I am always moved when we celebrate Memorial Day. Each year I try to preach on Memorial Day Sunday in my uniform. When I do that, I stand behind the pulpit of our family of faith with great humility. By God’s grace He has allowed us to be born in the greatest country. I also count myself greatly blessed to have served along side so many great men & women in our armed forces. For many in our nation, however, the holiday often overshadows the reason we remember. Unless someone calls our attention to the fact, we don’t think about the individual soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who have died. I’m not saying celebration isn’t appropriate, but it’s important to remember those who made this day possible. I didn’t realize the significance of this day until I was serving in the military myself. As a kid I remember Memorial Day as the day summer vacation was getting ready to begin… It usually meant that we would have a long weekend. And if we were lucky, mom & dad would pile all five of us kids in the green hornet station wagon & we’d head to Fontana Lake. I also remember the Memorial Day sales down at the Canton Western Auto. On this weekend, they’d have all the iceboxes, bicycles, lawnmowers and grills moved out. And on certain street corners of our little town, you could find Veterans sitting at tables with a tin can for donations for the disabled veterans. They would hand out little silk poppies. My dad always dropped in a few coins and then hung the poppy on the sun visor of his car. I really didn’t know much about the poppy, just that it had something to do with the war. The poppy is memorialized in a poem called Flanders Fields that goes like this: In Flanders Fields the poppies blow; Between the crosses, row on row; That mark our place, and in the sky; The larks, still bravely singing, fly; Scarce heard amid the guns below; We are the Dead, Short days ago; Loved and were loved, and now we lie, in Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe; To you from falling hands we throw; The torch, be yours to hold it high; If ye break faith with us who die; We shall not sleep, though poppies grow, in Flanders Fields.

Many times we pass by veterans’ cemeteries and hear stories of the great sacrifices of brave men & women, but we forget that they were once just like us… Americans living their lives day to day with their families and friends… Some with children; others with brothers and sisters, but we don’t really think of them that way. We forget their sacrifice. We forget that they used to live among us and one day they gave all they had so that we could live in freedom. Often times I think we also forget that our Savior was much the same way. He came and lived among us as a man. He fought the greatest battle of mankind and then awarded us with the victor’s crown. And He gave all He had so that we could have freedom from sin and a relationship with God. This weekend, let’s not forget the sacrifice of our brave service men and women. And let’s also take time to remember the great sacrifice of our Savior… Give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy – both as a nation as well as the freedom we have in Christ

 

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