Happy Memorial Day: Thankful Recognition

"The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree."  ~Thomas Campbell

This morning, my husband, Matt, took our girls outside with him and put up our flag... then he taught them about Memorial Day and why we celebrate it. Then we recited the Pledge of Allegiance, which the girls repeated very well :) It was a great way to start the holiday.

If you have never taken the time to learn about Memorial Day and its beginnings, you can take a look here at Memorial Day History. Here is a quote from the site...

Proudly flying at the Schweda's House

"Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country."

I believe, just as this article expresses, that we have a duty to take the time to recognize that our freedom came at a price. The men and women that laid their lives down to protect this country, our freedom and the idea of America, understood the value of those things. Our lives should be lived in an attitude of thankfulness in recognition of that sacrifice. If they valued those things enough to give their lives, we should live in a way that gives tribute to their sacrifice. We owe them a debt, and it can only be paid in thankful recognition and right living.

We see a similar parallel in our relationship with Jesus... we have been given freedom through the death (and resurrection) of Jesus, for us... and now we have a responsibility, to honor His sacrifice with our lives.

"He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world...
So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ." - Colossians 1:22-23, 28

Today we have a lot to be thankful for! We are thankful for the men and women who laid down their lives to give us freedom... and that's what Jesus did for us on the Cross, He gave us eternal freedom!

How are you going to live today to show that gratitude? How have you been changed? How can you help others the same way? Thankfulness is key here!

Happy Memorial Day!