Your men shall fall by the sword and your mighty men in battle. Isaiah 3:25
We walked reverently through the rows and rows of white markers, stark against the lush green grass, somberly trying to take in the immensity of the sheer numbers of men and women who have given their lives for this country; for our freedom. As far as the eye could see, the perfectly straight lines of markers, marched like soldiers in the sun, bright, upright and orderly, in contrast to the broken lives left behind. One cannot help but be filled with sorrow and deep respect here. In the silence, interrupted only by birdsong, the whoosh of a breeze through the trees, reverent chatter, or an occasional airplane overhead, we were in a holy place, sacred; Arlington National Cemetery.
Sadly, all our National Cemeteries are filling up at an enormous rate; our surviving soldiers, fortunate enough to have returned home, adding to the ranks. How many though continue to be “Missing in Action” and never came home? We ask ourselves when the fighting will cease. When will there be an end to war? When will mankind learn to live with one another in harmony and peace? When will the injustice perpetrated on defenseless people stop? When will our young people no longer have to be put in the position to “fall by the sword” in an effort to defend?
When this world comes to understand and respect that this is God’s earth- His creation, only then can it begin to turn in the right direction. Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to “Love one another” (John 13:14), yet during war, how do we do this; how is this possible? Still, as simplistic as it sounds, it is the only way. On this Memorial Day, as we take a moment to reflect on our freedom and the price that has been paid for it, let us begin at home - the very spot we are in, to simply “love one another.”
Heavenly Father, let us never forget those whose lives bought us freedom; freedom to live and love and the freedom to worship you as we may. In their honor, may our lives reflect your command to “love one another”.
In honor of all who have served our Country, offering the ultimate sacrifice to enable each of us to live in freedom.
Copyright© 2014 Kathleen A. Matson