Give honor where it is due

"Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed." Romans 13:7

Like many other Americans on this Memorial Day (which is a holiday to be celebrated not just a "long weekend,”) I will be honoring the memories of the millions of brave men and women who sacrificed their lives in wars and conflicts at home and abroad to give us the freedom that I and so many others enjoy in the United States today; freedom that is taken for granted by so many who have forgotten that it came with a price. And I will be doing it in a way that many other runners will also be doing it... by putting forth purposeful steps as part of an organized event. I, along with many of my friends (the majority of whom are active-duty or retired military) will be sharing some miles together early this morning to pay respect to those fallen service members who willingly laid down their lives not only for their loved ones, but for people they would never know or even meet.

And you know, when it comes to paying "respect to whom respect is owed" and "honor to whom honor is owed" as the Bible commands us, you and I would do well to both honor and respect the memories of these fallen soldiers who gave their lives for the independence this country holds dear by taking the time to reflect on their courage and to thank God for inspiring such love, bravery and selflessness in these heroes who are many times unknown or have long been forgotten--heroes who left behind friends and family to forever mourn their passing and lament their loss. 

So as you start your day today my friend, be sure to put up your flag as a reminder to yourself and to others of what this day truly stands for, and remember...  "Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.” May your day be blessed. May our nation turn back to God and may you and I courageously declare ourselves to be proud Americans. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for all those people who have died to provide the freedom we enjoy in this country. Lord cause us to pay them the respect they are due today and to remember that this great nation was founded on the principles laid out in the Bible. Help us to get back to those Lord and to remember that true freedom is found only in your son Jesus Christ who gave up His life that so we could have eternal life. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

God bless the USA