As I sat in my living room this evening my thoughts turned to tomorrow and what it means. I believe the true meaning has been lost in society that no longer shows honor. I am so thankful for my Pastor and my church that has been bringing us through a series called A Season of Honor. Our church has honored graduating students after a terrible year of all levels of government ordered lockdowns and unconstitutional “mandates; to our law enforcement, first responders, medical professionals and the trials they have endured for more than a year now; to this morning’s message honoring those members of our Armed Forces that paid the ultimate price in service to their oath and our Republic. I will be the first to admit this morning I was brought to tears remembering those brothers and sisters and arms that never made it home to their loved ones. Knowing that the families at home pay that price as well is quite sobering.
Throughout the series message the Pastor reminds us that we are never more like God than when we give, live, laugh, love, and honor. Our great Republic is losing their sense of honor because it is walking away from our Creator. We are living in a lost and broken world that has forgotten how to show honor. We can turn away from that path, back to a God who loves us unconditionally. I know that some churches are gripped by cultural fear still and have not re-opened, check out Pathways Church. It may help you get through these times.
Anyway, back to Memorial Day. I would ask the audience to remember our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsman that laid down their lives so that you and I may enjoy the freedoms we have here in the United States of America. Every Memorial Day I read these two poems and lift up the fallen in prayer to my God, giving thanks that he created such men and women. I pray you all take some time today to honor our fallen heroes.
Thinking of Shipmates gone to soon…
In Ocean waves no poppies blow
No crosses stand in ordered in row,
There young hearts sleep beneath the wave
The spirited, the good, and the brave
But stars a constant vigil keep,
For them who lie beneath the deep,
‘Tis true you cannot kneel in prayer
On a certain spot and think he’s there
But you can to the ocean go
See whitecaps marching row on row;
Know one for him will always ride,
In and out with every tide
And when your span of life is passed
He’ll meet you at the ‘Captain’s Mast’
And they who mourn on distant shore,
For Sailors who will come home no more
Can dry their tears and pray for these
Who rest beneath the heaving seas,
For stars that shine and winds that blow
And whitecaps marching row on row
And they can never lonely be,
For when they lived, they choose the sea.”
Copyright October 11, 2001 by Eileen Mahoney
In Flanders Fields
BY JOHN MCCRAE
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
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing 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.