May 1, 2004

Memorial Day thoughts…


May has the first 3-day holiday weekend of the year – traditionally a 
start to the summer season – and historically a time, as a nation, to 
remember the military men and women who have fought and defended our 
great land.  And as appropriate as that is to do, and especially this year 
with thousands of our young people certainly in harm’s way, I would 
also like to challenge you to remember outside that particular box.

Jesus tells us when speaking to His disciples in the Upper Room at that 
Last Supper that as often as we partake of the bread and the cup, to do 
it in “remembrance” of Him … as a Memorial Day celebration to Jesus.  
As our Memorial Day celebrations include picnics, parades and joyful 
family and community gatherings, should not our remembering of what Jesus 
has done for us prompt us to celebrate Him?

Sometimes we get lost in the somberness of the Lord’s Supper event, and 
certainly its seriousness should never be forgotten or trivialized, but 
should not our remembrances of Him bring joy and celebration to our 
lives?  If we “celebrate” the memory of our service personnel who have 
died for our country with parades and picnics, shouldn’t our remembering 
and celebrating what Jesus has done for us at least garner a Hallelujah 
or Praise the Lord from our lips?

Jesus commands us to “do this in remembrance of Me”.  What do you like 
to remember about Jesus?  What memories of His works and wonders are 
stored in your memory banks?  What miracles and awesome moments of His 
nearness and presence do you treasure?  These should be brought to the 
forefront of our thoughts, shared with other saints and then given back 
to the Lord with thanksgiving.  God loves to hear His people repeat His 
mighty acts.  How many times in scripture are the stories of God’s 
faithfulness told over and over and over?    Can we do any less?

I leave you this time with this challenge: bring specifically to mind 
those “remembrances” of Jesus that are tucked away in your soul and are 
treasured for how they blessed and affected your life, share them with 
others and then share them back to Jesus with thanksgiving and praise.  
Let’s make this a Memorial Day month that we won’t forget!!	


Until next time … love and prayers, 

RuthAnn Gleason, the Parson's Wife
ragleason@sbcglobal.net
May 1, 2004