Memorial Day

Humans are all the same in that we all are mortal. Every single human has a beginning and an end. It is morbid to think in these terms, but it is a fact. The differences lie in the length of time we live and how we die.  Dying is something no one looks forward too. Most people do not want to think about it or talk about it. We would just rather put it out of our minds. Then something happens; someone in our life passes away and we are forced to confront death. But unless we are forced to, we would rather not face it. 
Memorial day is a day of thinking about death. We honor a specific group of those that have died. We pay homage to those that have died in combat for our country. Well before the Civil War, Americans have been memorializing our fallen soldiers in various forms. We want to honor the soldiers that have given the most they possibly could...their life.  The Bible tells us that, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) In celebrating Memorial Day we focus on the love that these soldiers had for the soldier next to them and for our country. When you sit back and think what these people have done for others, it is hard to imagine. It is honorable and we pay them that honor on Memorial Day. 
Yet the same can be said for Christ. He too gave his life for us. He too died for our freedom. To free us from our sin He died a terrible death. It was honorable and glorious what He did. This is why the ultimate honor and glory goes to God. When reflecting on Memorial day we also can reflect on the Gospel. 
But no matter how many parades, flags, moments of silence, wreaths and parties there are, nothing can ease the pain of those that have lost loved ones. It is inconceivable to know what so many families will be going through for this holiday. So many parents have lost their children, so many have lost their spouses and so many children have lost their parents. Abraham Lincoln in a letter to a mother who lost five of her boys in the Civil War wrote, “I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.”
Let us pray for the families that have lost loved ones this Memorial Day as we honor those that have paid the ultimate price.

“Give to everyone what you owe them... if honor, then honor.” (Romans 13:7)