MEMORIAL DAY

 MEMORIAL DAY

Three day weekend

Family and friends gather together

Fun and games

Shared memories

Delicious food

But it's so much more than all of that.

Long weekends are needed to give respite from demanding lives.

The gathering of loved ones to enjoy recreation and to remember shared memories and enjoy delicious foods is an important outlet for all who consume their days with the heavy burdens of responsibility for those dependent upon them and for charting their safe course through the challenges that abound in a world fraught with danger.

But what about those who aren't there? What about those who have given themselves to the task of assuring the safety and well-being of we who are enjoying the holiday?

As we attend our cookouts and enjoy the company of family and friends, may we be mindful that this long weekend isn't simply our step into summer. May we ponder the sacrifices that have been made so our lives can be secure. May we reflect upon the young men and women whose sacrifices have assured our freedom.

May the freedom that they lost so much to give us be the focus of our Memorial Day week end. May we be thankful for the sacrifices they made. May we remember them with renewed determination that what they gave up was not in vain.

And may we be mindful that there is a sacrifice that is even more precious than theirs -- that the SON of GOD gave HIMSELF for our eternal freedom. As we celebrate, may we cherish those to whom our debt is so great and may we love the ONE to whom our debt is eternal.