Have you saw an unmarked grave from an unknown soldier who gave their life for our liberty and safety? Have you seen the flags of soldiers in a cemetery that passed away in battle for our God-given freedoms? Have you watched as a funeral procession drove by, loved ones with their heads held down in grief? Today is Memorial Day, a remembrance of those who died in battle, so we can be here today in safety and autonomy. Many of us celebrate this day as a day off of work. A day for fun. A day for maybe grilling out, parades and picnics. In our celebration, may we not lose sight of why we are able to celebrate this day, and who this day is especially for. May we take some time to pause in silence for those that gave their lives, so we could better have one. Those that gave their lives to protect the same freedoms that God intended. Those that spared their lives for our loved ones and our own, so we can live with freedom, liberty, choice, and safety. Those that have taken love your neighbor as yourself, to a whole deeper level. Today I thank God for them. I send condolences to their loved ones still alive today. I send gratitude to all these service members for their love and their great sacrifice. 

Erin Fitts-Brower 

John 15:12-13 NIV

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

1 John 3:16 NIV

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.