Remember And Honor!

May 26, 2022

Remember And Honor!

Memorial Day has always held special meaning for me.  I remember driving south of Lincoln with my family to visit the cemetery for my father’s side of the family.  We placed flowers and shared stories. 

From the Holland cemetery south of Lincoln, we drove to Beatrice to the cemetery for my mother’s side of the family.  Again, we placed flowers and shared stories.  During our three-hour afternoon drive in the car, we would listen to the Indianapolis 500 Car Race. 

Those are good memories.  But, it has been people like you who have taught me about taking time on Memorial Day to honor those who gave their lives in military service to protect our freedoms. 

I am grateful you have taught me that Memorial Day is more than decorating graves.  Memorial Day is also about honoring those who sacrificed their lives in service to our nation.  Thank you!

Jesus is the example of laying down our life for the sake of others.  Jesus lays down His life because of His deep love for you and me.  On Memorial Day, we honor those who have done what Jesus did. 

In I John 3:16 the Apostle John writes; “We know love by this, that he (Jesus) laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.” 

We are called to lay down our lives for one another.  Occasionally, we might literally lay down our life for another person.  I have known many mothers who were willing to sacrifice their life if it would help to save the life of their child.

There are other times, however, when the call is to make the kind of sacrifice that does not require our life.  Instead, the sacrifice requires devoting our heart, our time, and our energy to another person.  The person who adopts a child or fosters a child or takes in a grandchild to raise is laying down their life for the sake of a child.

Of course, laying down our life or pouring out our heart makes an incredible difference in the life of another person.  At the same time, making sacrifices for another person transforms the heart of the one laying down their life.

When Jesus laid down His life, forgiveness of our sin became possible.  When Jesus laid down His life, abundant life today became possible.  When Jesus laid down His life, eternal life in heaven became possible. 

Likewise, when our military personnel lay down their lives it makes freedom and equality as well as peace and joy possible for each person.

I honor those who lay their life down because their sacrifice brings a future with hope and joy and love for so many other people.  Today, I honor those who laid down their life in military service.

When we honor and celebrate those who have laid down their life for others, our heart is filled with delight.  There is no greater delight than to honor those who have sacrificed like Jesus sacrificed for you and me.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug