Freedom?

It's Memorial Day. It's not just a day off of work. It's not the first camping weekend. It's not a vacation day where you get time and a half. It's a time to remember.

What do we remember? For some, it is a time to reflect on the past wars. Some wars are seen as mistakes and others seen as necessary. Although there are a lot of things that differ from war to war, some things are similar. In every war there are those who do not agree with the war.

In each war, there are those who go to foreign lands, never to return again. In each war, there are those who protest the war for the killing that is involved. The protests hurt the soldiers who come home or hurt families who have lost their loved ones in that foreign land.

Each war threatens our freedom and each time that happens, men and women will volunteer to fight so that we can experience freedom.

Today, we had our annual Memorial Day Festivities at Moles Greenacres Memorial Park. The 1422 flags lined the roads and once again took my breath away when we drove into the park. We had the fly over from the vintage airplanes. We enjoyed the speakers and the musicians. We had hot dogs and brownies. All in all, it was a typical day. But, somehow it was different.

Today, as the widows (ers), wives, sons, fathers, mothers, children, and siblings paraded up to get their flower because their loved one had died this past year...over 100 vets died this year. Today my "job" was to be available for the family to get down the steps after they placed a carnation at the Veteran's Memorial .

What I saw in the faces of most of the people was grief. I saw young widows with small children weeping because, their husband and father didn't come home. I saw the tears and open grieving in the faces of teens who had lost their dad. And I realized that many places place the emphasis on the soldier. Please do not think that I am downplaying the soldier's bravery. I am not. I am wondering about those left behind. Young mothers who are now single moms. Young families who need to have the guidance that is necessary.

Thank you. Each of you. For you the soldier and your bravery and courage to take a stand for our nation. Thank you to the families, the mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, wives and children who remain and who are struggling because your loved one stood up for our freedom.

There is a cost for freedom. It comes at the price of loss and death. It comes at a great price. Thank you for serving. Thank you for putting your life on the line so that I might have the freedoms I enjoy.

Look at this picture taken in Arlington Cemetery. If you look carefully, you can see the heart made out of the tree branches to show people the love it takes for a man or a woman to dedicate their lives to being a solders.

Happy Memorial Day. Take some time to remember and to pray for the families who need the strength and the love of God. Pray for our country, its leaders, and for those who make crucial decisions. Pray that God will be the center of our lives. It is He that can give the orphans and widows peace. It is His peace that we desire. Pray that He will bless our land. Pray that we will be faithful to Him.