Remember them

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." 1 John 3:16

On May 30, 1868, the first Memorial Day (then called Decoration Day) was observed to commemorate the sacrifice of Civil War Soldiers. During that first national celebration, former Union General and sitting Ohio Congressman James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery that included these words, "We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.” It wouldn't be until many years later that Memorial Day was declared a legal holiday and the official day for all Americans to pay tribute to the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who, for love of country, gave their lives in service to the nation.

But you know, not only did these brave men and women give their lives for the country they love but also for the people, like you and me, who lived in that country... people they would never know or who may never even appreciate or acknowledge the freedoms their sacrifice offered. And yet they served anyway-willing to lay down their lives at any moment for their "brothers and sisters" just as "Jesus Christ laid down his life for us". There is perhaps no greater example we may ever see this side of Heaven of "what love is" than that my friend.

With that in mind, may we, on this Memorial Day, take time out from our runs, races and barbecues to honor those heroes who, by one supreme act, gave their lives for us to enjoy the freedom to live and worship in what is still the greatest country on Earth. We most certainly owe these fallen soldiers a debt of gratitude and our sincerest thanks, wouldn't you agree? For who else but Jesus Christ and the American Soldier has ever been willing to die for us?

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ, who showed us what it means to truly love one another. And thank you for the American Soldier who followed that example that we might live in a country where we are still free to worship You. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

If you're reading this - Tim McGraw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeCTlgO00pc