“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

Memorial Day Thoughts and Reflections

I saw a picture of a veterans monument desecrated with spray-painted graffiti. It broke my heart to see this picture of disrespect and disregard for our veterans. I fear many have no idea of the sacrifices made by so many for our freedom. Having just celebrated Memorial Day in May, this seemed to heap additional pain on the memory of the great loss for some families. I honor our Veterans wholeheartedly and thank their families for their own great sacrifice.

On November 11th we will honor every person who serves. Many came back wounded in some way that changed their lives, whether loss of limbs, family members in uniform left behind, while many still suffer great emotional trauma.

I don’t need to wait until November. I honor every person who enlists, because when they make that decision to serve their country they do not know what will happen during their time of service, and there is no guarantee that they will come home.

Thank you to everyone who has made that commitment to us for our freedom whether you repaired or maintained equipment, worked in offices, flew airplanes, operated radar, served in medical capacities, cooked or cleaned—you were needed and I am grateful to you because your part was necessary and appreciated. You were/are “cogs in the wheel of freedom.” No one comes home unchanged. Thank you for however many years you gave to maintain our freedom. Wartime or peacetime, when you signed those papers, you committed your life, not knowing your future.

I was born into a free country. I don’t want to ever take that for granted. Freedom is not free. Many paid for my freedom with their lives, others with their limbs and scars, both mental and emotional. I have not served and I do not pretend to know or even try to express what it is like to be away from family and friends for years and have to return changed and adapt to years worth of changes when there is so much turmoil within. It must be a huge challenge. I will honor them with my hand on my grateful heart to pledge my allegiance to the United States of America that our flag represents, and with a prayer that we remain one nation under God.

“Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you.

The American soldier died for your freedom,

Jesus Christ died for your soul.”

Thank You, God, that You lead us in Your triumph and Your victory! Thank You that You are the strength of our lives; of whom shall we be afraid?