Remembering

A Short Post for Memorial Day

I've been incredibly busy lately, so I just haven't had time to post anything. My apologies for that.

Family

Last week I took a day from work to attend a memorial service for my aunt, who passed away from complications of Parkinson's disease. My aunt was a wonderful lady - very gracious and generous, kind and loving. Our family had many Christmas and Thanksgiving celebrations at her and my uncle's house when I was young. We always had a great time with all of my aunts and uncles and cousins. I miss those big family celebrations, and I treasure the memories of them.

Although it was a sad day, I enjoyed seeing many of my aunts, uncles and cousins that I hadn't seen in quite a while - some of them for several years. They're all wonderful people. Although I am very happy living where I do now, being 200 miles away from my family is difficult at times. Fortunately, we are close to Mrs. Pete's family, so we get together with them often.

Fellowship

Mrs. Pete picked up the DVD of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" last week, and we sat and watched it again. What an excellent movie! It doesn't have quite the impact on a television as it does in the theatre, but it is still wonderful. Of course, I'm a big fan of J.R.R. Tolkien's work. I first read The Lord of the Rings when I was in college, many years ago. I enjoyed it so much that I actually spent a fair amount of money on a fancy, leather-bound edition of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

There are many themes running through Tolkien's books, but one of the major themes is fellowship and friendship. He writes of the sacrifice that true friends make for one another. He writes of the nobility of working together for a common good. He writes of the love of family and friends for one another, and how that love, the bonds of shared experience and long familiarity, are worth any price - even the ultimate price.

Being a Christian, Tolkien certainly knew the verse John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." It's one of the most familiar verses of the Bible, and one of the most profound. Jesus knew the sacrifice He Himself was going to make. Jesus also knew that some of us would be called on to make the ultimate sacrifice.

No one in their right mind wants to die, especially violently, painfully, before his or her natural span of years is up. But some are willing to risk all, and do pay with their lives, to preserve our freedom, so that family, friends and countrymen can pursue life, liberty and happiness.

In Memoriam

So, today I honor those that have served and are serving in our military, and especially those that have been grievously wounded and those killed in battle. I honor those that understand the true, deep meaning of fellowship and family. Men like Corporal Jason Dunham, who has been posthumously recommended for the Medal of Honor. The unbelievable courage of those like Corporal Dunham bring honor to our military and to our country. They are the true face of our military men and women.

In closing:

Our Father, today and every day, bring blessings on those who serve our country.

Protect and comfort them. Bring them home safely.

Give them hearts of courage to accomplish all of the difficult tasks facing them.

Give them peace, and let them know that we support them and believe in them.

For those that are injured, bring swift healing. Give skill and wisdom to the doctors, nurses and medics caring for them.

And for those that sacrifice with their lives for our freedom, gather them into Your loving arms. Call them Your own, and give the peace that passes all understanding to their families and friends.

Amen.

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