Every night before Memorial Day, our family watches the PBS Memorial Day special where many Gold Star family’s stories are told, and the lives of those servicemen and women who died in war are honored. Also, some wounded warriors tell their stories as well. Each story is powerful and a reminder of these brave people who put their lives on the line, day in and out, as the barrier between safety and harm to protect others. Most come home, some are well, some come home with visible or invisible wounds, yet there are far too many who never made it home.

In honor of those who died while serving our country and their Gold Star families, let’s take time today to…

pause. breathe. pray.™

Let’s honor the lives of the servicemen and women who have died throughout the years and hold their families who mourn in our hearts. This day can come and go easily without actually thinking about what this day is all about. May we remember those who sacrificed their life in service to our country. We don’t know their names but God does. May we give thanks for each person who gave their life, so that you and I get to live as freely as we do today. And may we remember, the freedom we haven’t isn’t meant to serve self, but God meant for our freedom to be use in service of others.

Galatians 5:13 says, “For you were called to freedom. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

May we give thanks for the these men and women who gave their all. May we be inspired to live with a heart of service as they did. And to honor their memory and carry on their legacy, let's choose to live out love and serve someone else in some way today.

With respect, gratitude and hope,
Shawn

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.."- John 15:13