Memorial
Day is a day for remembering those individuals who have died in
our nation’s military service. Throughout the Bible the people of God were
encouraged to remember what God had done for them. The Bible says,
“Give
praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known
among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to
him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to
the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember
the wonders he has done” (Psalm 105:1-6). The
eleven bold-faced, underlined, action words (or group of words) in this biblical
reference suggest ways to
remember. Maybe it is time for you and
me to stop and remember by using one or more of these action steps during the Memorial Day weekend. Regarding Passover,
a major Jewish holiday, they were told, “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to
come” (Exodus 12:14).
You and I can (and should) use Memorial Day as a day
to continue to celebrate our freedom and remember the many who fought and died for us. As we celebrate, we can honor their lives and
praise God for the many blessings we enjoy as a result.
Remembering brings us back to the reality of the dedication of the many
military men and women who stood strong for us. Remembering should also stir in us a sense of gratitude and appreciation, as well as strengthen our resolve to do our part in serving God, country and
others. At a family gathering you
may want to stop and remember and then offer a prayer
of thanksgiving. Above all, take time to show honor and respect for those who served our country or are still serving.
