Memorial Day is a day we have set aside to remember and thank God for our soldiers who have fallen at the hands of war. This day reminds us that war is an ugly thing. Its costs are staggering. It leaves in its wake utter destruction and death.
But war has existed since early biblical times. And until the glorious return of our Lord, there will be this ugly thing called war.
As Americans, we hold a wide range of divergent political and religious views on the subject of and justification for war. I suppose such war of words will not cease in this life. In the religious arena, some Christians consider it a blessing to have a strong national defense while others think that Christians cannot justify engagement in war under any circumstance. And I’m not about to jump into that debate with this blog post.
Like it or not, war is here to stay. Hostile groups exist out there that are relentless in their resolve to strike a vital blow against the heart of our nation. If we did not have a strong national defense, these adversaries would have already accomplished their objective.
Memorial Day Symbolizes the Cost of Our Freedoms
So, let me just cut to the chase. War has cost the lives of an astounding number of our brave men and women. That sad reality trumps our political and religious views on the debate of war. Plus, we all benefit from the the sacrifices of the fallen. For that reason, let us not forget to take a moment today to remember our soldiers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
It’s so easy for us to take for granted the abundant freedoms we enjoy. We are free to get up each day and go through our daily routines of pursuing our dreams—whatever they are. As we look around, our cities have not become militarized zones as in other places in the world. Today, many of us will enjoy Memorial Day with family and friends, cookouts, the beach, etc. The opportunities for most of us are countless.
But against the backdrop of all that we currently enjoy in America lurks this sobering reality. Many of our sons and daughters and brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers have died for that very cause.
First and foremost, this Memorial Day, I thank God for the freedoms and quality of life we enjoy in America. Secondly, I thank Him for our brave men and women who have given their lives to defend those freedoms and our quality of life. And for those who stand on the front line today and every day to keep us land of the free, home of the brave.
Copyright © 2022 by Frank King. All rights reserved.