Memorial Day Musings

 


     What do you think is the most expensive holiday in the United States?  My first thought was Christmas.  In fact, I read that Americans spend an average of around $950 a person on Christmas.  In 2022, retailers made 936 billion --that's BILLION -- dollars on holiday sales.  Can there be any other holiday that even comes close?

     The other day a friend on Facebook posted this quote about Memorial Day.  I can only credit the author as a man names Leonard, but I have thought about it ever since I read it.


     Is there any value we can even begin to put on the lives of all those through the history of this nation who have given their lives so that we can live freely in this land?  Is there any spending greater than those who spent their life's blood for us to enjoy spending our $950 dollars each Christmas?  Is there any gift more costly than a parent who allowed their son or daughter to defend your freedom with their life?

     This year I spent the day alone because everyone else was away on various trips.  As I thought about it, each of those trips was financed by the sacrifice of those military personnel who have died defending our freedoms, and I thank them for it. 



    I thank them for defending our freedom for the pursuit of happiness. My husband is on a fishing trip with his brothers in Alaska, something they have dreamed of doing for years.  Thank you for giving us a country where we can travel freely.  Thank you for giving us a country where we can set aside money for our dreams, even if it takes several years.  So many others around the world cannot.

     I thank them for defending our freedom to educate our children in the way that we, as parents, choose.  We have chosen to homeschool our children, and they are attending an international homeschool convention where they are competing in various events and hearing great messages from God's Word.  Thank you for giving us a country where we can freely raise our children to love and serve the Lord.  So many others around the world cannot.

     I thank them for defending our freedom to worship God as we seek to follow Scripture.  One of our sons is visiting missionaries and helping them with a building project.  Thank you for giving us a country where we can worship God freely and without fear, and where we can tell others about our faith.  So many others around the world cannot.



    Thinking of it from the perspective of national holidays, I would have to agree that Memorial Day is the most expensive holiday we celebrate as Americans.  Over 1,250,000 Americans soldiers have died for us during war time either in battle, from their wounds, as prisoners, from diseases they contracted while fighting, or from other causes.  That is a dept we can only repay by holding on to the freedoms they defended and defending them ourselves.

     

     However, there is one even more costly holiday that we celebrate as Christians.  Good Friday is the day each year we remember the cost of Jesus paid for our freedom from sin.  The price was beyond measure.  God Himself spent His own life blood so that we can spend eternity with Him.

    


      There is no way any other sacrifice would free us from the sin we were enslaved to.  No other could pay that price because we all have sinned.  We each were enslaved by our own sin.  Jesus in the greatest act of love, took every sin man has ever or will ever commit and "took the bullet" for us.  When He gave His life for us, His blood was sacrificed to set us free.

     That is a debt we can never repay.  We can only accept it gratefully and claim our freedom in Him.  Lord, thank you for giving us forgiveness.  Thank you for giving us a home in heaven with You.  Thank You for giving us Your righteousness.  Thank You for giving us victory in You.

     I love our troops, and I think they deserve our support and appreciation for all their training and sacrifices they make on our behalf.  But even the fact that we need a military is based on the fact that we live in a fallen world.  One of my many favorite passages in Scripture is Micah 4:1-4.

But in the last days it shall come to pass,
that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be
established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be
exalted above the hills; and the people shall flow 
unto it.
And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and
let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house
of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us
of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law
shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD
from Jerusalem.
And he shall judge among many people,
and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat
their swords into plowshares, and their spears
into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword
against nation, 

neither shall they learn
war any more.  

But they shall sit every man under his own
vine and under his own fig tree; and none shall
make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of 
hosts hath spoken it.


          What a beautiful day is coming because of Christ's sacrifice.  A day when we will no longer need to learn war, but every man will dwell safely sitting under the shade of his own grape arbor.  
     In the meantime, let us honor the sacrifice brave men and women have made to keep our nation free.


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