What does Memorial Day mean to you?

For those who have not been directly touched by the death of a loved one in service – a husband, a son, a daughter, a brother, a father, a sister-in-law, a nephew, a cousin – it is easy to see Memorial Day as a holiday weekend to spend with friends and family BBQing and hanging out at the pool. And, Yes! An off day from work!

For others, Memorial Day is a reminder of the Ultimate Sacrifice! It is a reminder of the precious freedoms we have in this country – freedoms that came with great price, – freedoms that are taken for granted every day.   The soldiers that we honor on Memorial Day believed in something “more.” They understood the pledge of allegiance, honor, and most of all they understood how to give their all.

In giving their all, they gave their life. Their life for our freedoms!   Something doesn’t sound quite right about that – a life for a freedom. Yet, our soldiers (our family members and our friends’ family members) gave their lives so that we could enjoy the life that we have today in a blessed free country. Our soldiers desired for our country to be protected, free, and blessed. They believed in this so much that they were willing to give their life so that The United States of America could be a free nation.

I know someone else who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus Christ gave His all so that we might live a life of freedom both here on this earth and in Heaven for all of eternity.   Just like the soldiers that we honor on Memorial Day, Jesus sacrificed His life for our freedoms.

Jesus, too, believed in something “more.” He saw a greater purpose – the Kingdom. We see this when He prayed, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Jesus desired for the things that were done in heaven to be done on earth. He desired for us to be free – free of disease and pain, hurt, disappointments, sin, sorrow, death, and He desired for us to be blessed.

We, as Christians should also honor Christ’s sacrifice by living out our lives in the same way in which He did.   We should believe in the purpose and the mission He gave to us when He said that we should go out into all the world and preach the gospel to all nations and share the “good news” with all people. We also should be willing to sacrifice our life for His mission.

We should have a thankful heart for the ones who went before us, fought for our freedoms, and gave their all. We should have a thankful heart that Jesus went before us, died for our freedoms, and gave His all.

Thank you to all of our service men and women who make sacrifices daily so that we might live a life blessed with freedoms. Thank you to all of their families who miss them while they are away and have to get along without them.

I would like to encourage everyone to remember our purpose as Christians, to daily walk it out, and to sacrifice our all just as Jesus did as well as those whom we honor for giving their all on this special Memorial Day!