I haven't written since Mothers' Day, but I've had thoughts swirling and churning in my brain since then. I know my dad thinks I start these things and just drop them off the face of the earth. I promise I don't stop writing. They starts and stops just hang out in my head like fetuses. The thoughts aren't fully formed and aren't ready for the big, bad world. But today is different.
Today is Fast Sunday for July. To my husband that means he gets to watch NASCAR, but to me, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, it means I should be skipping two meals and giving a fast offering. I did the latter today, but not the former. Oops! Fast Sunday also means testimonies will be borne after the sacrament has been passed. A couple of people said some things that really touched me, but I don't remember what they are. Terrible, right? I should write this stuff down then I can actually USE it later. Either way, what they had to say got me to thinking about the last couple months and my failure to write this blog, read my scriptures, or even pray most days. (I'm really NOT the best example!)
So looking back over the last couple months some things have weighed really heavily on me. #1 This whole Ordain Women & Kate Kelly thing and #2 The last two major holidays, Memorial Day and Independence Day. We're going to talk about the latter, because there have already been SO MANY blogs and opinions for and against the former that my head and heart hurt, actually physically hurt, from it, but on to these holidays.
Memorial Day is a day set aside by the United States of America's federal government to honor the memories of all those men and women that died while in service to the armed forces. Independence Day is another day set aside by the same federal government to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, which was our countries way of declaring/demanding freedom from the Kingdom of Great Britain. A war ensued. We all know about the Revolutionary War, right? These two recent holidays got me to thinking about my own military service. They aren't for me yet people still honor veterans on those days. Why?
I began to reflect on my service in the United States Army. I was a military police officer for 5 years on active service. I was a military police officer for the Oregon Army National Guard for about 2 years then I became a quartermaster for the remaining 2 years or so. All-in-all I served nearly 10 years, but got out when I was pregnant with my eldest daughter. I had to desire to repeat the performance of my deployment to Bosnia-Herzegovina with a new "War on Terror" coming down the pipe. Basically, I chickened out. Mind you I had a child while serving on active service too, but I wanted my life to continue and I'm glad I made that choice. But that's not my problem. What did I contribute? What was my sacrifice?
I'm not like the hundreds and thousands of men and women that went to battle and never came home. I don't have a white cross in a national cemetery somewhere in the U.S. or over in Europe or elsewhere in the world. (There are 24 American burial grounds on foreign soil.) I didn't sacrifice. I didn't die.
Well, all this got me to thinking about soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and all those men and women who have passed on paying the ultimate sacrifice. Let me remind you, most of them were volunteers doing a job they knew could end by them losing their own life and they did it anyway. They were fighting for our freedom. Our freedom to live and breathe and worship in any way we feel appropriate that doesn't infringe on our fellow man. Back in 1776 that wasn't the case in a lot of places. Brave people stood up to tyranny and fought the good fight and sacrificed to give us those freedoms.
I know one person who isn't listed on any of the memorials, isn't buried in any cemetery, but did the EXACT SAME THING only better...
Jesus Christ.
Think about it. He fought tyranny. Tyranny from Satan. Satan would have us do his bidding, honor him, but he lost the fight. Christ fought for our freedoms too. Our freedom to choose. We have the choice to believe in Him, in Heavenly Father and we have the choice to not believe. He paid the ultimate sacrifice. He died for us. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. He died so we could be saved both from physical death, but spiritual death too.
Jesus Christ's sacrifice is the ULTIMATE sacrifice. What more could one ask of a person? And let me remind you, lest you'd forgotten. He VOLUNTEERED. Yup. Stepped up and knew exactly what he was getting into and did it anyway. He left in Heavenly Father's hands and kicked booty!
Christ is our perfect example of what to do, how to live, how to behave, how to act, how to treat one another. He is the answer. If you don't think He knows your pleasure, your pain, your joy, your suffering. Think again. He knows. Even better, lean on Him and He'll carry you through the trials and be there to celebrate your triumphs. ALWAYS.
What could be better?
Now not to diminish those brave men and women we honor on Memorial Day and Independence Day. Thank you so much for your sacrifice. I know you're here watching over your loved ones and trying with all your might to steer them in the right direction. You'll be together again some day.
Everyone, let's take care of each other by honoring those who sacrificed for us. Honor Heavenly Father as Christ would have done and in doing so, you honor those that have passed in the fight for our continued freedoms.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
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