“Memorial Weekend Memories”

“Memorial Weekend Memories”

May 25, 2016

Certain dates on the calendar provide reminders of special events in the past. This weekend is one of them. In my growing up years, our annual routine was to visit the cemeteries where family members were buried. We would collect wildflowers from the ranch and place them on the graves. My mother usually shed some tears and my dad always offered a prayer of thanksgiving for the people being remembered. We kids learned to value people that we had never known.

During the next few days, there will be military events at national cemeteries, flyovers by military aircraft, thousands of American flags placed on graves, and plenty of tears shed as people remember and give thanks for the men and women who gave time to the service of our country. These are good reminders to us of the cost of freedom.

As Carol and I developed our own family traditions, Memorial Weekend was the time for one of several summer camping trips. A special memory goes back to 1980 when, less than two weeks earlier, Mount St. Helens had blown her top. On Memorial Weekend, she decided to send out a lot more material and we woke up to mud-ash raining on our tent. Many camping trips later, our tent still showed evidence of that event.

Memorial Weekend is considered the official beginning of summer. Many people get serious about gardening at this time. Schoolchildren are counting the days to the end of another school year. Graduation events and celebrations abound. Each of these milestones has significance, and most of them will become memories – hopefully, good ones.

Before Jesus went to the cross to die in our place, He established a memorial celebration we know as Communion or The Lord’s Supper. When we participate, we remember Him and give thanks while also anticipating His return for us at a future time. I pray that our first priority during this Memorial Weekend will be to remember Jesus. This will put all other memories in proper perspective.

Pastor Bill Ehmann

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RECENT POSTS

So Quickly It Changed

By wvbaptist | March 19, 2020 | 0 Comments

March 18, 2020 A week ago, we were planning for weekend events and worship services. Schools were busy, restaurants filled – life seemed so normal. One day later, it all changed and continues to change. The unknowns and uncertainties are […]

Sweeter With Time

By wvbaptist | March 12, 2020 | 0 Comments

March 12, 2020 Growing up in a small community and church, we enjoyed periodic Singspirations where you could choose the song you wanted everyone to sing. Nearly every time it was my dad’s turn to choose, he would select “Sweeter […]

Wisdom From Ziggy

By wvbaptist | March 5, 2020 | 0 Comments

March 4, 2020 I appreciate the Ziggy cartoon. Occasionally, he really makes me think. Such was the case on February 26 this year. He was looking at the March calendar and said, “Pondering the future can be overwhelming . . […]

Looking Back

By wvbaptist | February 27, 2020 | 0 Comments

February 27, 2020 Recently, I said to Carol, “I wish I could be 30 again and live the next decades with the life experience I have gained.” Obviously not an option, but I thought about what I might do differently […]

Pray Without Ceasing

By wvbaptist | February 20, 2020 | 0 Comments

February 19, 2020 I am probably not the only person to ponder the directive in I Thessalonians 5:17 that is often translated “Pray without ceasing.” Various other translations include, “Pray without omission,” “Pray regularly,” “Pray all the time” and “Never […]

Scroll to Top